# detain vs detainee

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### detain
*verb · IPA /dɪˈteɪn/ · frequency rank #22,056*
To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.

### detainee
*noun · IPA /ˌdɪteɪˈniː/ · frequency rank #34,856*
Someone who is detained, especially in custody or confinement.

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