detention

de-ten-tion · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    The action of detaining someone or the state of being detained in official custody.

  2. 2.

    A punishment in which a student must stay at school after hours.

Related words

Antonyms: freedom, release
See also: custody, detain, detained
Synonyms: confinement, custody, holding, imprisonment

Etymology

From Latin detentio, from detinere meaning "to hold back." From de- (away) + tenere (to hold). First recorded in English in the 15th century.