Word
detention
Phoneticsde·ten·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈtɛnʃən/
UK/dɪtˈɛnʃən/
Definitions
01legal or political custody
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Law Formal
n. the state of being kept in a police station or prison, especially while waiting for a trial.
n. the act of keeping someone in official custody, typically for legal or political reasons. Often uncountable when referring to the state of being held.
“The suspect was held in detention for twenty-four hours while the police gathered more evidence.”
“The international human rights group expressed grave concern regarding the prolonged detention of political activists without a formal trial.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'in detention' or 'detention centre'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02school punishment
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a punishment where a student must stay at school after the other students have gone home.
n. a form of disciplinary action in schools where a student is required to remain in a designated area during non-instructional time.
“The teacher gave him a detention because he kept talking during the lesson.”
“After repeatedly failing to submit his assignments on time, the student was assigned a Saturday morning detention as a final warning.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verbs 'give', 'get', or 'serve'.
Synonyms
03delaying or holding back
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of delaying someone or stopping them from moving forward.
n. the act of delaying or hindering someone or something. This sense is less common in modern speech and usually refers to physical obstruction.
“The detention of the ship at the port caused the company to lose a lot of money.”
“The unexpected detention of the diplomatic convoy at the border led to a minor international incident.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “detention” in context.
Verb
01. escape from detention
“The prisoner managed to escape from detention during the chaotic transfer to the new facility.”
verb + prep + noun
02. face detention
“Students who repeatedly skip classes will face detention after school.”
verb + noun
03. order the detention of the suspects
“The judge ordered the detention of the suspects pending further investigation.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
04. arbitrary detention
“Human rights organizations have condemned the arbitrary detention of political activists.”
adj + noun
05. prolonged detention
“The lawyer argued that prolonged detention without trial violated his client's fundamental rights.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. detention center
“The government opened a new detention center to house undocumented immigrants.”
noun + noun
07. period of detention
“The maximum period of detention for questioning was extended to forty-eight hours.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in detention
“He spent three hours in detention for talking back to the teacher.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Türk deplored the mandatory detention clause, which breaks from the current practice of holding child offenders in education-based institutions .” “People have been cut off from their families and effectively disappeared into detention, while relatives have been left searching prisons, courts and even morgues for answers.” “Angel has racked up more detentions than any other year 8 student.” “A man dressed up as a pickle shouts at counter-protesters through a megaphone during a protest against a new ICE detention center in the small town of Appleton, Minnesota, in August.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French détention, from Latin detentio, detentionem. Equivalent to detain + -tion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
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