Detainees Meaning in English

word · lemma: detainee

US

UK

Definition

People who are being kept in custody by the authorities, usually because they are suspected of a crime or for security reasons.

Usage & Nuances

Often used in legal, news, or official contexts. Refers specifically to people held in custody but not necessarily convicted of a crime. Common with 'political detainees' or 'prison camp detainees'. Not interchangeable with 'prisoners' or 'inmates' which imply conviction.

• Spanish: detenidos
• Portuguese (BR): detentos
• Portuguese (PT): detidos
• Chinese (Simplified): 被拘留者 - 被扣押人
• Chinese (Traditional): 被拘留者 - 被扣押人
• Hindi: बंदियों
• Arabic: المحتجزون
• Bengali: আটকরা - বন্দীরা (আইনি)
• Russian: задержанные
• Japanese: 被拘留者
• Vietnamese: người bị giam giữ
• Korean: 구금자
• Turkish: gözaltındakiler - tutuklular (mahkeme kararı olmadan)
• Urdu: حراست میں لیے گئے افراد
• Indonesian: tahanan - orang yang ditahan

Example Sentences

The detainees are waiting for their lawyers.

basic

There are over fifty detainees in the center.

basic

Lawyers voiced concern about the conditions faced by the detainees.

natural

Some detainees have been held without trial for months.

natural

The families of the detainees want answers.

basic

The government released several detainees as a gesture of goodwill.

natural