Detainee: meaning, definitions and examples

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detainee

[ ˌdiːˌteɪˈniː ]

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legal term

A person held in custody, especially for political reasons.

Synonyms

captive, inmate, prisoner

Examples of usage

The detainees were kept in a maximum-security prison.
The detainee was awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in the protest.

Translations

Translations of the word "detainee" in other languages:

🇵🇹 detido

🇮🇳 बंदी

🇩🇪 Häftling

🇮🇩 tahanan

🇺🇦 затриманий

🇵🇱 zatrzymany

🇯🇵 拘留者 (kōryūsha)

🇫🇷 détenu

🇪🇸 detenido

🇹🇷 tutuklu

🇰🇷 구금자 (gugumja)

🇸🇦 معتقل

🇨🇿 zadržený

🇸🇰 zadržaný

🇨🇳 被拘留者 (bèi jūliú zhě)

🇸🇮 pridržanec

🇮🇸 fangi

🇰🇿 қамауға алынған

🇬🇪 დაკავებული

🇦🇿 tutulan

🇲🇽 detenido

Word origin

The word 'detainee' originated from the Middle French word 'detenir', meaning 'to detain'. The term has been used since the 15th century to refer to a person held in custody. In modern times, 'detainee' is commonly used in legal contexts, especially in reference to individuals held for political reasons or during armed conflicts.

See also: detain, detained, detainees, detainment, detention.