The word "retention" refers to the ability to keep or hold on to something over time. In various contexts, it can refer to the preservation of information in memory, the maintenance of an object or substance, or the continued possession of rights or property. For example, in education, retention typically denotes how well students can remember information learned over a period.
The word "retention" comes from the Latin word "retentio", which means "a holding back". It is derived from the verb "retinere", meaning "to hold back" or "to retain".