Retainment vs. Retention: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Retainment refers to the act of keeping something or someone in place, whereas retention is the ability to hold or contain something.
Key Differences
Retainment is a process or action focused on maintaining a status or position, often used in contexts like employment or holding onto resources. In contrast, Retention refers to the ability or capacity to hold, maintain, or keep something within a system or entity, commonly used in contexts of memory, liquid holding, or customer engagement.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
The concept of Retainment emphasizes the act of keeping something actively, implying an ongoing effort or strategy, such as in talent retainment strategies in corporations. On the other hand, Retention often describes a passive ability, such as a material's capacity to retain heat or a person's memory retention.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
In business, Retainment might refer to policies or practices designed to keep employees engaged and committed to the company. In contrast, Retention in the same context could mean the rate at which a company keeps its employees over a period, indicating a measure rather than an action.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
From a linguistic perspective, Retainment is less commonly used and has a more specific scope of application, often in formal or technical contexts. Retention, however, is a more versatile term, applicable in various contexts like psychology, medicine, and customer relations.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
In summary, while both Retainment and Retention involve the concept of keeping or maintaining, Retainment is more about the action or strategy to keep, and Retention is more about the capacity or state of being kept.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Retainment and Retention Definitions
Retainment
Maintenance of a state or condition.
The garden's retainment of its beauty through winter was remarkable.
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Nov 10, 2023
Retention
State of being retained or kept.
Water retention in the soil helps plants grow.
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Nov 10, 2023
Retainment
Act of keeping something in place or position.
The company's retainment of skilled workers boosted its productivity.
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Nov 10, 2023
Retention
Memory's capacity to hold information.
Good sleep improves memory retention.
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Nov 10, 2023
Retainment
The process of continuing to hold or possess.
The museum's retainment of ancient artifacts is crucial for historical preservation.
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Nov 10, 2023
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Retention
Ability to keep or hold something.
His retention of facts for the exam was impressive.
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Retainment
Holding back or reserving something for a purpose.
The retainment of funds was necessary for the upcoming project.
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Retention
Continuing to possess or use something.
The retention of customers is key to the business's success.
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Nov 10, 2023
Retainment
To keep possession of; continue to have
The family sold the house but retained the land.
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Retention
The act of retaining or the condition of being retained
The retention of nutrients in the soil.
The retention of jobs in the city.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retainment
To keep in a particular place or condition
A library that retains the author's papers.
Plants that retain a lot of water.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retention
The practice of requiring a student to repeat a class or a year of school because of insufficient educational progress to advance.
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Retainment
To continue to have as a feature or aspect
Retains his good humor after all the setbacks.
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Retention
The ability to recall or recognize what has been learned or experienced; memory.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retainment
To keep in mind; remember
Retains the songs she learned in childhood.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retainment
To require (a student) to repeat a class or grade because of insufficient educational progress to advance.
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Retainment
To hire a person for (that person's services)
Retained the best legal advice available.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retention
(obsolete) That which contains something, as a tablet; a means of preserving impressions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retainment
Keeping someone engaged or committed.
The teacher's retainment of student interest was evident in their active participation.
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Retention
(legal) The right to withhold a debt, or of retaining property until a debt due to the person claiming the right is duly paid; a lien.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retention
(insurance) The portion of a potential damange that must be paid for by the holder of an insurance policy.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retention
The power of retaining; retentiveness.
No woman's heartSo big, to hold so much; they lack retention.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retention
That which contains something, as a tablet; a of preserving impressions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retention
The right of withholding a debt, or of retaining property until a debt due to the person claiming the right be duly paid; a lien.
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Oct 19, 2023
Retention
The power of retaining and recalling past experience;
He had a good memory when he was younger
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Oct 19, 2023
Retention
Maintenance of a condition or position.
The retention of heat in the greenhouse is essential for the plants.
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Nov 10, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can retainment apply to physical objects?
Yes, it can refer to keeping physical objects in a certain condition or location.
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Nov 10, 2023
What does retainment mean?
Retainment refers to the act of keeping or maintaining something in its place or position.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
What does retention mean?
Retention refers to the ability to hold, maintain, or contain something within a system or entity.
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Nov 10, 2023
Does retainment imply effort?
Yes, it often implies an active effort or strategy to maintain something.
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Nov 10, 2023
Is retention always intentional?
Not necessarily, it can refer to both intentional and inherent abilities to retain.
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Nov 10, 2023
Is retention a versatile term?
Yes, it's used in diverse contexts like psychology, medicine, and business.
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Nov 10, 2023
How is retainment used in a business context?
In business, retainment often relates to strategies for keeping employees or clients engaged.
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Nov 10, 2023
Is retainment a common term?
It's less common and more specific, often used in formal or technical contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Does retainment involve active measures?
Yes, it typically involves strategies or actions to maintain something.
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Nov 10, 2023
Can retention apply to abstract concepts?
Yes, such as memory retention or customer retention.
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Nov 10, 2023
How is retention measured?
It's often measured as a rate or percentage, like employee retention rates.
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Nov 10, 2023
Is there a physical aspect to retention?
Yes, in contexts like water retention in soil or heat retention in materials.
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Nov 10, 2023
Are these terms interchangeable?
Not always, as they have different nuances and contexts of use.
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Nov 10, 2023
How does retention relate to customer loyalty?
High customer retention rates often indicate strong customer loyalty.
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Nov 10, 2023
Does retention imply a natural ability?
Often, it implies a natural or inherent capacity to hold or keep something.
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Nov 10, 2023
Can both terms apply to employee management?
Yes, but retainment is more about strategies, while retention is about the rate of keeping employees.
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Nov 10, 2023
Can retainment involve legal aspects?
Yes, like retainment of rights or property in legal agreements.
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Nov 10, 2023
Is retainment commonly used in everyday language?
No, it's more often found in formal or specialized discourse.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Can retainment be temporary?
Yes, it can be for a specific period or until certain conditions are met.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
Can retention be improved?
Yes, like memory retention can be improved with practice and techniques.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 10, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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