detainer
noun
de·tain·er
di-ˈtā-nər 
1
: the act of keeping something in one's possession
specifically
: the withholding from the rightful owner of something that has lawfully come into the possession of the holder
2
: detention in custody
3
: a writ authorizing the keeper of a prison to continue to hold a person in custody
Examples of detainer in a Sentence
keep him in detainer for at least 72 hours
she filed an action for unlawful detainer of land after nonpayment of rent
Recent Examples on the Web
Homan has said sanctuary policies prevent that, and there are examples of times when detainers lodged by ICE have gone ignored, particularly in Boston and wider Massachusetts.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
The brothers were placed under an ICE detainer and brought to ICE's Jacksonville, Florida field office.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025
Homan, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, blasted Boston police commissioner Michael Cox for doubling down on the police department's policy to not cooperate with civil detainer requests that don't involve criminal charges.
—Steph Solis, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025
The Connecticut Department of Correction honored the ICE detainer on Dec. 26, 2024, and White was turned over to immigration officials once his sentence was complete, according to ICE.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
The brothers were placed under an ICE detainer and brought to ICE's Jacksonville, Florida field office.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025
Homan, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, blasted Boston police commissioner Michael Cox for doubling down on the police department's policy to not cooperate with civil detainer requests that don't involve criminal charges.
—Steph Solis, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025
The Connecticut Department of Correction honored the ICE detainer on Dec. 26, 2024, and White was turned over to immigration officials once his sentence was complete, according to ICE.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
Cite this Entry
“Detainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detainer. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
detainer
noun
de·tain·er
di-ˈtā-nər
1
: the act of keeping something in one's possession
specifically
: unlawful detainer
2
: detention in custody
3
: a notification sent by a prosecutor, judge, or other official advising a prison official that a prisoner is wanted to answer criminal charges and requesting continued detention of the prisoner or notification of the prisoner's impending release compare extradition
Etymology
Anglo-French detenoure, from detenir to restrain, detain, from Old French, from Latin detinere
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