Persons who are held in custody or confinement, especially those awaiting trial or being held for questioning.
From French 'détenir' meaning to hold, from Latin 'detinere' (de- + tenere to hold). The term became prominent in legal and military contexts to distinguish from convicted prisoners.
The word 'detainee' gained international attention after 9/11 when governments needed a term for people held without trial. It's deliberately neutral-sounding compared to 'prisoner,' highlighting how language shapes perception of controversial policies.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.