detinere

Deținerea is a Romanian noun that denotes the act of possessing or holding something. It can refer to the physical possession of tangible objects, documents, or even intangible assets such as data or information. The term is used in everyday language as well as in legal and administrative contexts, and it is distinct from ownership (proprietate).

In legal terms, deținerea describes the holder’s actual control over a thing, which may or may not coincide with title or ownership. The person who holds an item is called the deținător. The concept is sometimes contrasted with posesie, depending on the legal framework, where possession can be a factual situation independent of ownership rights, whereas ownership denotes a broader bundle of rights.

There are different modalities of deținere. Legitimate deținere occurs when the holder has lawful justification, such as possession under a contract, loan, or license. Illicit deținere refers to holding a thing without a valid basis, which may give rise to civil liability or criminal penalties (for example, illegal possession of weapons or contraband). In criminal procedure, terms related to detention and custody are used differently across jurisdictions, but deținere generally focuses on the fact of holding, regardless of the legality of the holding.

In everyday and administrative use, deținere appears in phrases like deținerea unui obiect, deținerea unei arme (under licensing requirements), or deținerea de date cu caracter personal, and is often regulated by specific laws or regulations.

Etymology: from Latin detinere, via French détenir, meaning to hold or keep. The related term deținător denotes the holder or possessor.