detachment

 
Pronunciation: /dɪˈtatʃm(ə)nt/

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] the state of being objective or aloof: he felt a sense of detachment from what was going on
  • 2 Military a group of troops, aircraft, or ships sent away on a separate mission: a detachment of Marines [mass noun]: the Squadron went on detachment to Malta
  • a party of people separated from a larger group: a truck containing a detachment of villagers
  • 3 [mass noun] the action or process of detaching; separation: structural problems resulted in cracking and detachment of the wall

Origin:

mid 17th century: from French détachement, from détacher 'to detach' (see detach)