# detached

/diˈtætʃt/ (US) · /dɪtˈætʃt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/detached
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. not connected

adjective · CEFR B2

not joined to something else; separated or removed.

For teachers: physically separated or disconnected from a larger unit or structure.

- The garage is detached from the main house, so you have to walk outside to reach it.
- The investigation revealed that a detached cable was the primary cause of the sudden power failure across the industrial park.

### 2. house type

adjective · CEFR B1 · British English

a house that does not share any walls with another house.

For teachers: denoting a house that stands alone and is not joined to another building on either side.

- They are looking for a detached house with a large garden for their children.
- In many suburban developments, a fully detached property commands a significantly higher market price than its semi-detached counterparts.

### 3. emotionally distant

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

showing no emotional involvement or bias; staying objective.

For teachers: characterised by a lack of emotional involvement or personal bias; maintaining an objective or impersonal distance.

- A judge must remain detached and fair when listening to both sides of a case.
- The journalist maintained a detached perspective throughout the conflict, reporting the facts without succumbing to the intense emotions of the local population.

## Examples

- They live in a large detached house.
- The surgeon maintained a detached professional manner even when the patient's family became highly emotional.
- While a detached perspective is essential for scientific inquiry, it can sometimes be perceived as cold or indifferent in interpersonal relationships where empathy is expected.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.