be under detainment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be under detainment" is not correct in standard English; the correct term is "be under detention." You can use it when referring to someone being held in custody, typically by law enforcement or in a school setting.
Example: "The suspect will be under detention until further notice from the authorities."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I would no longer be under detainment.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The former rebel has been in detainment since his capture, and veers between bitter, resigned silences to hours-long rants.

The New Yorker

With increasing frequency, the international migration authorities are launching detainment programs with limited healthcare; for example, in Mexico, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Croatia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nauru and Papua New Guinea [ 4, 5, 9].

Conflict and Health

Hence, the government is resorting to detainment.

The New York Times

In a permanent war zone called Britain, smoke pours into the air as illegal immigrants are swept into detainment camps.

The New York Times

In early May, Damjanović led the SDK Chetnik formations under his command into northwestern Italy, where they surrendered to the British and were placed in detainment camps.

Wikipedia

Rape and beatings have been reported in detainment centres, and one death has been confirmed.

Vice

Rape and beatings have been reported in detainment centers and one death has been confirmed.

Vice

No one proposes some system of automatic condemnation; what the European (and Canadian) model entails is indictments, detainments, trials, and fines.

The New Yorker

The devil we know may be better than the detainment we don't.

The Guardian - Opinion

Industry officials said more than 100 foreigners were detained; American officials acknowledged the detainments but would not put a number on them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "detention" instead of "detainment" when referring to the state of being held in custody.

Common error

Avoid using "detainment" as a noun. While "detain" is a verb, the correct noun form for the state of being detained is "detention".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be under detainment" is intended to function as a description of a state, specifically being subjected to a period of forced holding or confinement. However, this usage is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig confirms that the proper term is detention.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be under detainment" is a grammatically incorrect construction. The correct term to use is "be under detention". Although the example provided by Ludwig includes the incorrect term in a sentence from The Guardian, it's crucial to recognize that "detainment" is not standard English as a noun. When conveying the state of being held in custody, always opt for "detention" or other suitable alternatives such as "held in custody" or "detained". Ludwig's analysis underscores the importance of using precise language, especially in formal or legal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be in detention

Uses the correct noun form 'detention' instead of the incorrect 'detainment'.

be detained

A concise way of saying that someone is being held.

be held in custody

Emphasizes the legal aspect of being held by authorities.

be kept in custody

Highlights the act of being kept or maintained in a state of custody.

be in confinement

Focuses on the restriction of movement and isolation.

be under arrest

Specifically indicates that the person has been formally arrested.

be imprisoned

Implies a longer-term sentence within a prison.

be incarcerated

A more formal synonym for 'be imprisoned'.

be apprehended

Emphasizes the act of capturing and taking someone into custody.

be interned

Suggests confinement, often during wartime or civil unrest.

FAQs

What is the correct noun form: detainment or detention?

The correct noun form is "detention". "Detainment" is not standard English.

What does it mean to be under detention?

To be under "detention" means to be held in custody, typically by law enforcement or school authorities.

What can I say instead of "be under detainment"?

Use "be under "detention"", "be held in custody", or "be "detained"".

Is "detainment" ever correct to use?

"Detainment" is not a standard noun. The correct term is "detention".