Definitions for: Detention

[n] a punishment in which a student must stay at school after others have gone home; "the detention of tardy pupils"
[n] a state of being confined (usually for a short time); "his detention was politically motivated"; "the prisoner is on hold"; "he is in the custody of police"

Webster (1913) Definition: De*ten"tion, n. [L. detentio: cf. F. d['e]tention.
See Detain.]
1. The act of detaining or keeping back; a withholding.

2. The state of being detained (stopped or hindered); delay
from necessity.

3. Confinement; restraint; custody.

The archduke Philip . . . found himself in a sort of
honorable detention at Henry's court. --Hallam.

Synonyms: custody, hold

See Also: confinement, penalisation, penalization, penalty, punishment

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