detainee

/ˌdiːteɪˈniː/ (bre, ipa) · [dˌitenˈi] /ˌdiːteɪˈniː/ (ame, ipa) · [dˌitenˈi] /di-ˌtā-ˈnē How to pronounce detainee (audio) ˌdē-/ (ame, mw)

detainee — noun

  • detaineesingular
  • detaineesplural

1. someone held by the police, military, or another authority in a jail, camp, or s

1.名詞C1
釋義

someone held by the police, military, or another authority in a jail, camp, or similar place, often before any court decision or because of political conflict

例句

The lawyer was not allowed to see the detainee until late evening.

passive: be allowed to see a detainee

After the protest, Ziad remained a detainee at the city jail.

collocation: remain a detainee

同義詞
  • prisoner

    broader and more common; often suggests someone serving a sentence or held in prison

  • inmate

    more institutional and neutral; commonly used for someone living in a prison or similar facility

  • captive

    broader term for anyone held against their will, including in war or kidnapping situations

反義詞
  • free person

    someone who is not being held by authorities

文法句型

detainee + in/at + [place]

release + detainee

hold + detainee

用法筆記

Often used in legal, immigration, or political reporting for someone held by authorities. Unlike prisoner, this word does not itself suggest that the person has already been found guilty or formally sentenced.

常見錯誤

❌He became a detainee after the judge sentenced him to ten years.
✅He became a prisoner after the judge sentenced him to ten years.
💡Detainee usually refers to someone being held, often before a final legal decision, not someone already serving a sentence.