# detention

/dɪˈtɛnʃən/ (US) · /dɪtˈɛnʃən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. legal or political custody

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the state of being kept in a police station or prison, especially while waiting for a trial.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. school punishment

noun · CEFR B1

a punishment where a student must stay at school after the other students have gone home.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. delaying or holding back

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of delaying someone or stopping them from moving forward.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The police ordered the detention of the suspect for forty-eight hours.
- After the protest, several activists were held in detention without being charged with a specific crime.
- International human rights observers expressed grave concern regarding the arbitrary detention of journalists and the lack of due process afforded to those held in the capital.

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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.