HomeServicesBlogDictionariesContactSpanish Course
← Back to search

Meaning of detention | Babel Free

Noun CEFR C1 Standard
dɪˈtɛnʃn̩

Definitions

  1. A locality in Circular Head Council, north western Tasmania, Australia.
  2. The act of detaining or the state of being detained; hindrance.
    uncountable
  3. The act of detaining or the state of being detained; hindrance
  4. A temporary state of custody or confinement
  5. A temporary state of custody or confinement.
    countable, uncountable
  6. Confinement of a prisoner awaiting trial.
    countable, uncountable
  7. Confinement of a prisoner awaiting trial
  8. 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.
    countable, uncountable
  9. 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
  10. The bare physical control without the mental element of intention required for possession.
    countable, uncountable
  11. The bare physical control without the mental element of intention required for possession

Equivalents

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 ship.”
“"[…] On the 18th of October, 1841, a very intense magnetic disturbance was recorded, and amongst other curious facts mentioned is that of the detention of the 10:05pm express train at Exeter for 16 minutes, as from the magnetic disturbance affecting the needles so powerfully, it was impossible to ascertain if the line was clear at Starcross. The superintendent at Exeter reported the next morning that someone was playing tricks with the instruments, and would not let them work."”
“be stuck in detention”
“Now, for slacking off in class and for having a serious attitude problem, your punishment is two weeks in detention, with me, starting this afternoon.”

CEFR level

C1
Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
See all C1 English words →

See also

Learn this word in context

See detention used in real conversations inside our free language course.

Start Free Course

Know this word better than we do? Language is a living thing — help us keep it growing. Collaborate with Babel Free