detainee

noun

de·​tain·​ee di-ˌtā-ˈnē How to pronounce detainee (audio)
ˌdē-
: a person held in custody especially for political reasons

Examples of detainee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Negotiations are underway to try to reach the second phase of the agreement, which would see the release of all living hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners and detainees, a permanent ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2025 In exchange for the bodies, Israel on Saturday is expected to release more than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, as outlined in the fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Daniel Estrin, NPR, 20 Feb. 2025 Without naming parties, the International Committee of the Red Cross raised objections about how the hostage and detainee releases were being carried out. Johnatan Reiss, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025 Representatives from the Consulate of Mexico visited the facility Monday and were able to speak with detainees, Ortiz said. Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for detainee

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of detainee was circa 1928

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Cite this Entry

“Detainee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detainee. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

Legal Definition

detainee

noun
de·​tain·​ee di-ˌtā-ˈnē How to pronounce detainee (audio)
: a person who is detained
especially : a person held in custody prior to trial or hearing

More from Merriam-Webster on detainee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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