detention
/dɪˈtɛnʃn̩/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: detentions
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The act of detaining or the state of being detained; hindrance.
Noun
Examples
In the case of rail-borne traffic, permission is given to each sender to load and forward his traffic so that it will be available for loading into the vessel with a minimum of detention to wagons, unless arrangements have been made for the traffic to be put into store to await the arrival of the sh
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A temporary state of custody or confinement. — Confinement of a prisoner awaiting trial.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “detention” mean?
The act of detaining or the state of being detained; hindrance.
Is “detention” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.