1. the punishment of being required to stay at school after regular hours
Usage: educational context
2. the act of keeping someone in custody or confinement
Usage: legal context
3. the act of delaying or holding back
Usage: formal

Examples

• She received detention for talking during class.
• The student had to serve detention after school on Friday.
• The suspect was held in detention pending trial.
• Immigration officials ordered his detention at the border.
• The detention of the cargo caused shipping delays.
• Police detention of the protesters lasted several hours.
• The school’s detention policy requires parental notification.