detention

Borrowed from Middle French détention, from Latin detentio, detentionem.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈtɛnʃən/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

detention (countable and uncountable, plural detentions)

1. (uncountable) The act of detaining or the state of being detained.
   • 1945 January and February, T. F. Cameron, “Dock Working”, in Railway Magazine, page 12:

     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 ship.

2. (countable) A temporary state of custody or confinement.
   1. (law) Confinement of a prisoner awaiting trial.
   2. (pedagogy) A punishment given to a student for a minor infraction, typically requiring the student to report to a designated room during recess or outside of school hours to work on homework or perform busywork.

      be stuck in detention

3. (civil law) The bare physical control without the mental element of intention required for possession.

• (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction): DT, jug (Roman Catholicism)

• detain

detention c (singular definite detentionen, plural indefinite detentioner)

1. detention

• “detention” in Den Danske Ordbog