Meaning of Word
Retention refers to the act or ability to keep, hold, or maintain something, whether it is physical, mental, or institutional.
Definitions and Meaning in English
- Noun: The ability to remember information or experiences.
- Noun: The continued possession, use, or control of something.
- Noun: The act of retaining employees, customers, or resources in an organization.
- Noun: In science, the capacity of a material to hold substances, such as water or heat.
- Noun: In legal terms, keeping property or rights under specific conditions.
History and Origin
The word “retention” comes from the Latin retentio, meaning “a holding back,” which is derived from retinere (“to hold back” or “to retain”). It entered Middle English via Old French, primarily used in contexts involving memory or physical holding.
Detailed Explanation
Retention refers broadly to the act of holding onto or maintaining something, whether tangible or intangible. In cognitive contexts, it describes the capacity to remember and recall information. In organizations, retention often relates to keeping employees, customers, or resources over time. In scientific or medical contexts, it can refer to how substances like heat, water, or nutrients are absorbed or held. It emphasizes the importance of continuity, stability, and preservation in various fields.
Example Sentences
- Good sleep is essential for improving memory retention.
- The company focused on employee retention by offering better benefits.
- Soil retention is crucial to prevent erosion in agricultural areas.
- The training program helped with the retention of new knowledge.
- Proper water retention in plants ensures healthy growth.
- The school uses creative teaching methods to improve student retention rates.
- The organization struggled with customer retention due to poor service.
- In law, retention of property often depends on the fulfillment of contractual terms.
- The body’s retention of excess fluids can lead to swelling.
Synonyms with Short Explanation
- Preservation: The act of keeping something intact or unchanged.
- Conservation: The protection or careful use of resources.
- Maintenance: The act of keeping something in good condition or continued use.
- Recall: The ability to retrieve information or memories.
- Continuity: The maintenance of consistent and uninterrupted flow.
Related Words with Short Explanation
- Retain: To keep possession or control of something.
- Absorption: The process of taking in or holding substances, such as liquid or information.
- Persistence: Continuing to exist or endure over time.
- Storage: The act of keeping items in a place for future use.
- Containment: The action of holding or keeping something within limits.
More Matches with Short Explanation
- Retention Rate: The percentage of individuals or items retained over time.
- Fluid Retention: A medical condition where the body holds excess water.
- Knowledge Retention: The ability to recall and use learned information.
- Employee Retention: Keeping employees in an organization over a period.
- Customer Retention: Maintaining a loyal customer base in business.
Antonyms
- Loss: The act or state of no longer having something.
- Forgetting: Failure to recall information or experiences.
- Abandonment: Giving up possession, use, or control of something.
- Release: The act of letting go or freeing something.
- Discharge: The removal or expulsion of a substance, person, or property.
