retention

UK: /rɪˈtɛnʃ^ən/ US: /rɪˈtɛnʃən/ ,(ri ten′shən)

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

re•ten•tion /rɪˈtɛnʃən/   n. [uncountable]

1. the act of retaining, or the state of being retained.
2. the act or power of remembering things;
   memory:
   amazing powers of retention.

See -ten-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•ten•tion  (ri ten′shən), n. 

1. the act of retaining.
2. the state of being retained.
3. the power to retain;
   capacity for retaining.
4. the act or power of remembering things;
   memory.

• Latin retentiōn- (stem of retentiō) a keeping back, equivalent. to retent(us) (past participle of retinēre to retain) + -iōn- -ion
• Middle English retencion 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

retention / rɪˈtɛnʃən/ noun

1. the act of retaining or state of being retained
2. the capacity to hold or retain liquid
3. the capacity to remember
4. the abnormal holding within the body of urine, faeces, etc that are normally excreted
5. a sum of money owed to a contractor but not paid for an agreed period as a safeguard against any faults found in the work carried out
6. (plural) profits earned by a company but not distributed as dividends; retained earnings

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin retentiō, from retinēre to retain