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Definition of detainee

detainee

/dɪˌteɪˈniː/
de · tain · ee
Plural:detainees
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detainee Lexical Profile

detainee Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person held in official custody, especially for political reasons or while awaiting legal charges or immigration processing.

Example

"The legal aid organization sent an attorney to interview each detainee at the border facility."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for detainee

• Nearby Words

detailer
detailing
detain
detainee
detainment
detangle
detangler

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century from the verb detain and the suffix -ee, ultimately tracing back to the Latin detinere ('to hold back').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Detainee. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/detainee
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