# defining vs detaining

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### defining
*adjective · frequency rank #7,554*
Serving to define or distinguish.

### detaining
*noun · frequency rank #39,287*
A delay, hindrance, or impediment; the act of holding back.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defining-vs-detaining