Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Detention

De-ten′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
detentio
: cf. F.
détention
. See
Detain
.]
1.
The act of detaining or keeping back; a withholding.
2.
The state of being detained (stopped or hindered); delay from necessity.
3.
Confinement; restraint; custody.
The archduke Philip . . . found himself in a sort of honorable
detention
at Henry’s court.
Hallam.

Webster 1828 Edition


Detention

DETENTION

,
Noun.
[See Detain.]
1.
The act of detaining; a withholding from another his right; a keeping what belongs to another, and ought to be restored.
2.
Confinement; restraint; as detention in custody.
3.
Delay from necessity; a detaining; as the detention of the mail by bad roads.

Definition 2024


detention

detention

See also: détention

English

Noun

detention (countable and uncountable, plural detentions)

  1. (uncountable) The act of detaining or the state of being detained.
  2. (countable) A temporary state of custody or confinement, especially of a prisoner awaiting trial, or of a student being punished.

Derived terms

Translations