retención

retention

noun rreh-ten-SYOHN Less Common

Origin: From Latin retentio, from retinere (to hold back).

Also means

withholding

Usage Note

Retención is used in legal and financial contexts for the withholding of taxes (retención fiscal) and in traffic for a jam or hold-up (hay retenciones en la autopista = 'there are hold-ups on the motorway'). In medicine it refers to retention of fluids or urine.

Examples

"Le hicieron una retención del 15 % en el salario."

Natural Translation

They withheld 15% from his salary.

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