detection and detention differ by a single letter, buried far enough into the word to be easy to miss. detection means “the perception that something has occurred or some state exists”. detention means “a state of being confined (usually for a short time)”. detention is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/dɪˈtɛkʃən/
1.n.the perception that something has occurred or some state exists
“early detection can often lead to a cure”
2.n.the act of detecting something; catching sight of something
3.n.the detection that a signal is being received
/dɪˈtɛnʃən/
1.n.a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
“his detention was politically motivated”
2.n.a punishment in which a student must stay at school after others have gone home
“the detention of tardy pupils”
| detection | detention | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /dɪˈtɛkʃən/ | /dɪˈtɛnʃən/ |
| Said | di-TEK-shuhn | di-TEN-shuhn |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Letters | 9 | 9 |
| Parts of speech | noun | noun |
| Senses | 4 | 2 |
| How common | Familiar | Common |
| Synonyms | sensing | detainment, hold, custody |
Full entry for detection · Full entry for detention · More comparisons