Word forms: plural detention centresregional note: in AM, use detention center
countable noun
A detention centre is a sort of prison, for example a place where people who have entered a country illegally are kept whilea decision is made about what to do with them.
detention centre in British English
noun
a place where persons (typically asylum seekers, illegal immigrants, or people awaiting trial) may be detained for short periods by order of a court
Examples of 'detention centre' in a sentence
detention centre
All five were last night behind bars in a detention centre.