What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
withholdment
Example
The company's withholdment of my salary caused me financial difficulties. [withholdment: noun]
Example
The government's withholdment of information about the incident raised suspicions. [withholdment: noun]
retention
Example
The retention of the old building's architecture added to its historical value. [retention: noun]
Example
His excellent memory retention allowed him to excel in his studies. [retention: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Retention is more commonly used than withholdment in everyday language. Retention is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while withholdment is less common and is often associated with legal or financial contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between withholdment and retention?
Both withholdment and retention can be used in formal contexts, but withholdment may be more formal due to its association with legal or financial contexts.
