detained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "detained" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or formal contexts to describe someone being held in custody or not allowed to leave a place, often by law enforcement. Example: "The suspect was detained by the police for questioning regarding the incident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Crider suspected that the US, which sent interrogators to interview Mobley shortly after he was detained, is complicit in his apparent disappearance.

The Guardian

Yet all day long they had allowed the falsehood to be tweeted and written about that Miranda was detained without being offered a lawyer.Pretty shocking.

The Guardian

Most people detained under the 2000 Act are held for less than one hour.

The Guardian

Church was the only person who had been detained at the facility who agreed to talk with the Guardian: their lawyers say others fear police retaliation.

The Guardian

Speaking to the Guardian before he was detained, he described what has happened to him since he vanished.

The Guardian

A total of 3,462 people were in immigration detention at the end of last year mostly waiting for removal – 397 of them had been detained for longer than six months, and 18 for longer than two years.

The Guardian

A taxi driver contracted to international online cab firm Uber and detained on charges of raping a female passenger last weekend in the Indian capital Delhi is a serial sexual offender with dozens of criminal complaints registered against him, local media have claimed.

The Guardian

The pair were detained, though not arrested, by police on 11 September after a complaint that they were having sex in their car, which was parked outside CBS studios in the Studio City area of Los Angeles.

The Guardian - Film

Asylum seekers indefinitely detained in Australian detention centres live with the knowledge that they may be deported to countries where they will be potentially tortured and killed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Related: Daniele Watts: Django Unchained actor alleges racial bias after being held by LA police The couple were detained, though not arrested, by police last September after a complaint that they were having sex in their car, which was parked outside CBS studios in the Studio City area of Los Angeles.

The Guardian

One female political activist who fled to the UK after being detained, raped and tortured by police in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, said: "Many are raped by secret police and other security officials.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "detained" when you want to convey a formal sense of being held, especially by authorities. It is suitable for legal, news, and official contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "detained" interchangeably with "arrested". "Detained" implies a temporary holding, often for investigation, while "arrested" signifies a formal charge and legal process.

Linguistic Context

The word "detained" functions primarily as a past participle or past tense verb, indicating that someone or something has been held or kept in custody. This is consistent with the provided examples from Ludwig, where it describes individuals being held by authorities or in specific locations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "detained" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term, especially within the realm of news and media, to describe someone being temporarily held by authorities. According to Ludwig, the word functions as a verb and maintains a neutral register. It's crucial to differentiate "detained" from "arrested", as the former implies temporary holding for investigation, while the latter signifies formal charges. Related phrases include "held in custody" and "taken into custody", offering similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Being very common, you can find several real world examples within The Guardian articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

held in custody

Focuses on the legal aspect of being held by authorities.

taken into custody

Emphasizes the act of being taken by authorities.

held for questioning

Highlights the reason for the detention, specifically for interrogation.

confined

Suggests a physical restriction to a space.

imprisoned

Implies a longer-term confinement as a result of a sentence.

incarcerated

A more formal term for imprisoned.

apprehended

Focuses on the act of catching or seizing someone.

restrained

Highlights the act of preventing someone from moving freely.

interned

Implies confinement, often during wartime or political unrest.

impounded

Refers to the seizing of property or vehicles, not necessarily people.

FAQs

What does "detained" mean in a legal context?

In a legal context, "detained" refers to the temporary holding of a person by law enforcement, often for questioning or investigation. It doesn't necessarily mean the person is "arrested" or charged with a crime.

What are some synonyms for "detained"?

Alternatives to "detained" include "held in custody", "taken into custody", "confined", or "apprehended", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How is being "detained" different from being "arrested"?

"Detained" suggests a temporary restriction of movement, often for questioning. "Arrested" implies a formal charge and the beginning of legal proceedings. Someone "held for questioning" might be released without charge, whereas someone arrested will typically face charges.

Can "detained" be used for objects or only for people?

While "detained" primarily applies to people, it can sometimes be used metaphorically for objects, though this is less common. More often, words like "impounded" or "seized" are used for objects.