Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
detention
noun
/dɪˈtɛn.ʃən/
Definition
The act of keeping someone in a specific place, often as a form of punishment or to prevent them from leaving.
Examples
- The teacher gave him detention for talking during the lesson.
- After school detention is a common practice in many schools.
- Her detention lasted for two hours due to repeated tardiness.
Meaning
Detention usually refers to the practice of holding students after school as a consequence of misbehavior, but it can also pertain to holding individuals in custody.
Synonyms
- confinement
- custody
- imprisonment
- restraint
