Detention Definition

dĭ-tĕnshən
noun
A detaining or being detained.
Webster's New World
A form of punishment in which a student is required to stay after school.
Webster's New World
The state or a period of being detained, especially:
American Heritage
The act of keeping an individual imprisoned or in custody.
Webster's New World Law
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Detention

Noun

Singular:
detention
Plural:
detentions

Origin of Detention

  • Middle English detencioun act of withholding from Anglo-Norman from Latin dētentiō dētentiōn- from dētentus past participle of dētinēre to detain detain

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle French détention.

    From Wiktionary

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