de ‧ ten ‧ tion /dɪˈtenʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: detentio , from detentus , past participle of detinere ; ⇨ ↑ detain ]
1 . [uncountable] the state of being kept in prison
in detention
Willis was held in detention for five years.
2 . [uncountable and countable] a punishment in which children who have behaved badly are forced to stay at school for a short time after the others have gone home
in detention
She was always getting put in detention.