Detainee
noun
Definition
A person held in official custody, often by government or military forces. (Note: Some dictionaries mention that detainees are often held because of their political views or activities, not necessarily because of a crime.)
Context Alive
A journalist reports from outside a military facility where several detainees are being held without formal charges, waiting weeks or even months to learn their fate. Families gather at the gates, hoping for news about their loved ones inside.
Meanings
1 meaning 1 Person Held in Official Custody — COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about someone being officially held by authorities, usually before they’ve been formally charged or convicted. Imagine watching the news and hearing that several detainees were released from a military prison after years of waiting for a trial. This is being a detainee — held in custody but not yet convicted of anything. You might hear about detainees at immigration centers, or the government might transfer detainees to a different facility. Or picture a human rights lawyer fighting to visit her client, a detainee who has been held for months without access to legal help. The word carries a sense of being in legal limbo — held but not sentenced.
Vivid ExampleThe international organization demanded access to the detainees being held at the remote facility, insisting that every person deserves basic rights regardless of their legal status or the accusations against them.
Examples from the Street
“The detainees were held for months without trial.”
The people being held were kept locked up for a long time with no court hearing
“Human rights groups are calling for better treatment of detainees.”
Organisations focused on fair treatment are demanding improved conditions for people being held
“Several detainees have gone on hunger strike.”
A number of people being held have refused to eat in protest
Common Patterns
a detainee → a person being held officially by authorities
detainees at [location] → people held at a specific facility
political detainees → people held for political reasons
immigration detainees → people held due to immigration issues
release detainees → set held people free
detainee rights → legal protections for people being held
treatment of detainees → how people being held are treated
abuse of detainees → mistreatment of people being held
access to detainees → ability to visit or communicate with people held
hundreds/thousands of detainees → large numbers of people held
former detainee → someone who was previously held but has been released
fellow detainees → other people held in the same place
Collocations
3 collocationspolitical detainee
someone held for their political beliefs
rights of detainees
legal protections for people in custody
release detainees
free people who have been held in custody
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
The detainees have been held for over a year without access to legal representation
The people being held have been locked up for more than twelve months with no opportunity to speak to a lawyer.
2
Human rights organisations are demanding better treatment of detainees at the facility
Groups focused on fair conduct are calling for improved conditions for those being held at the centre.
3
Several political detainees were released following international pressure
A number of people imprisoned for their beliefs were set free after foreign governments intervened.
4
The government has refused to grant journalists access to detainees
The authorities have denied reporters permission to visit or speak with those being held.
5
As a former detainee, he has spoken publicly about the conditions inside the prison
As someone who was previously held and later freed, he has talked openly about what life was like behind bars.
6
There are currently over 500 immigration detainees at the processing centre
More than five hundred people awaiting decisions on their right to stay are currently held at the facility.
7
The report documented serious abuse of detainees by prison guards
The document recorded significant mistreatment of those being held by the officers responsible for them.
8
Lawyers are fighting to ensure detainee rights are respected
Legal professionals are working hard to make sure the protections owed to those being held are honoured.
9
He formed close bonds with his fellow detainees during his time in custody
He developed strong friendships with the other people held alongside him while he was locked up.
10
The court ordered the immediate release of all detainees held without charge
The judge demanded that everyone being held without formal accusation be freed straight away.
Learner Examples
★
When studying legal English, understanding words like detainee is essential for reading news articles about human rights issues
When learning vocabulary for law-related texts, grasping terms for people held by authorities is crucial for comprehending media coverage of fair treatment concerns.
★
The class discussed a case study about immigration detainees and the legal processes involved in seeking asylum
The group examined a real-world example involving people held while awaiting residency decisions and the official procedures for requesting protection in a new country.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsprisoner
someone held in custody
captive
someone kept against their will
inmate
someone in a prison or facility
suspect
someone held during investigation
Antonymsfree person
someone not in custody
captor
the one holding the detainee