detainee
noun
de·tain·ee
di-ˌtā-ˈnē 
ˌdē-
: a person held in custody especially for political reasons
Examples of detainee in a Sentence
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The mix of short-term detainees and long-haul prisoners makes SeaTac a unique microcosm of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), where courtroom drama and the gritty realities of incarceration meet under one roof.
—
Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
In two cases in the Middle District of Florida, civil rights groups sued the state and federal governments for not providing detainees with confidential access to their attorneys.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Human rights groups claim the agreement lacks protections against torture or indefinite confinement for detainees.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
On Sunday, the South Korean government announced its intent to charter a plane to fly more than 300 of the detainees home.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
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Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
In two cases in the Middle District of Florida, civil rights groups sued the state and federal governments for not providing detainees with confidential access to their attorneys.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Human rights groups claim the agreement lacks protections against torture or indefinite confinement for detainees.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
On Sunday, the South Korean government announced its intent to charter a plane to fly more than 300 of the detainees home.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainee
Cite this Entry
“Detainee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detainee. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
detainee
noun
de·tain·ee
di-ˌtā-ˈnē
: a person who is detained
especially
: a person held in custody prior to trial or hearing
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