détention

detention, custody

noun deh-tahn-SYOHN Rare

Origin: Latin detentio (a holding back)

Also means

holding (of assets)

Usage Note

Détention covers both police custody (détention provisoire = pre-trial detention) and the holding of financial assets (détention d'actions = share ownership). In a school context, the equivalent of 'detention' as a punishment is more commonly retenue in French. The related verb is détenir (to hold, to detain).

Examples

"Il est en détention provisoire depuis trois jours."

Natural Translation

He has been in pre-trial custody for three days.

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