detained / imprisoned
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detained
Describes the state of being in custody; being arrested by the police or judiciary and held in a prison or another detention facility.
Der Verdächtige bleibt bis zum Prozessbeginn inhaftiert.
The suspect remains detained until the start of the trial.
The word is the past participle of the verb 'inhaftieren' (to imprison/detain). This verb is made up of the preposition 'in' and the noun 'die Haft' (custody/imprisonment). 'Inhaftiert' (detained) therefore describes the state of being in custody.
Der Mann wurde wegen Diebstahls inhaftiert.
The man was imprisoned for theft.
'Inhaftiert' (detained) is almost always used predicatively with the verb 'sein' (to be) or in passive sentences with 'werden' (to become/be). Use directly before a noun, e.g. 'der inhaftierte Mann' (the detained man), is grammatically correct but less common.
Der Journalist ist seit zwei Jahren in einem fremden Land inhaftiert.
The journalist has been detained in a foreign country for two years.
This word belongs to formal language and is mainly used in official contexts, such as with the police, in court, or in the news.
Die Polizei teilte mit, dass der Verdächtige weiterhin inhaftiert bleibt.
The police stated that the suspect remains in custody.
free
'frei' and 'inhaftiert' are direct opposites here. 'frei' means that a person is not locked up and can move around. 'inhaftiert' means that a person is being held by the police or the justice system, for example in prison. 'frei' is a very general word and can have many meanings. 'inhaftiert' is much more specific and only fits custody and legal situations.
Der Verdächtige bleibt bis zum Prozess inhaftiert.
The suspect remains in custody until the trial.
Nach der Entscheidung des Gerichts ist der Mann wieder frei.
After the court's decision, the man is free again.