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Detention: meaning, definitions and examples

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detention

 

[ dɪˈtɛnʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

at school

The action of detaining someone or the state of being detained in official custody, especially as a political prisoner.

Synonyms

confinement, custody, incarceration

Examples of usage

  • They were arrested and held in detention for questioning.
  • She was released from detention after the investigation was completed.
Context #2 | Noun

legal

The action of detaining someone or the state of being detained in official custody, especially as a political prisoner.

Synonyms

confinement, custody, incarceration

Examples of usage

  • The suspect was placed in detention pending trial.
  • Detention without trial is a violation of human rights.
Context #3 | Noun

informal

A form of punishment used in schools, typically involving staying behind after school hours.

Synonyms

discipline, penalty, punishment

Examples of usage

  • He received detention for talking in class.
  • The teacher assigned extra detention for incomplete homework.

Translations

Translations of the word "detention" in other languages:

🇵🇹 detenção

🇮🇳 नजरबंदी

🇩🇪 Haft

🇮🇩 penahanan

🇺🇦 затримання

🇵🇱 zatrzymanie

🇯🇵 拘禁 (こうきん)

🇫🇷 détention

🇪🇸 detención

🇹🇷 gözaltı

🇰🇷 구금 (gugum)

🇸🇦 احتجاز

🇨🇿 zadržení

🇸🇰 zadržanie

🇨🇳 拘留 (jūliú)

🇸🇮 pripor

🇮🇸 fangelsi

🇰🇿 қамауда ұстау

🇬🇪 დაკავება

🇦🇿 həbs

🇲🇽 detención

Etymology

The word 'detention' originated from the Latin word 'detentio', which means 'a holding back, delay, or retention'. The concept of detention has evolved over time to encompass various contexts, such as legal detention, school punishment, and political detainment. The use of detention as a form of discipline in schools became more prevalent in the 20th century, aiming to deter misbehavior and promote order in educational settings.

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

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,524 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.