Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun detention

2 senses of detention

Sense 1
detention, detainment, hold, custody -- (a state of being confined (usually for a short time); "his detention was politically motivated"; "the prisoner is on hold"; "he is in the custody of police")
       => confinement -- (the state of being confined; "he was held in confinement")

Sense 2
detention -- (a punishment in which a student must stay at school after others have gone home; "the detention of tardy pupils")
       => punishment, penalty, penalization, penalisation -- (the act of punishing)