detention

UK: /dɪˈtɛnʃ^ən/ US: /dɪˈtɛnʃən/ ,(di ten′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•ten•tion /dɪˈtɛnʃən/   n. 

1. [uncountable] the act of detaining or the state of being detained.
2. [uncountable] the keeping of a person in custody or confinement.
3. the keeping of a student after school hours as a punishment:
   [uncountable] got detention for two days in a row.
   [countable] giving out detentions to everyone in the French class.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•ten•tion  (di ten′shən), n. 

1. the act of detaining.
2. the state of being detained.
3. maintenance of a person in custody or confinement, esp. while awaiting a court decision.
4. the withholding of what belongs to or is claimed by another.

adj. 

5. of or pertaining to detention or used to detain:
   the detention room of a police station.

• Latin dētentiōn- (stem of dētentiō), equivalent. to dētent(us) detained (past participle of dētinēre; see detain) + -iōn- -ion
• late Middle English 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

detention / dɪˈtɛnʃən/ noun

1. the act of detaining or state of being detained
2. custody or confinement, esp of a suspect awaiting trial
3. (as modifier): a detention order
4. a form of punishment in which a pupil is detained after school

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin dētentiō a keeping back; see detain