In summary, "retention" is a multifaceted term that speaks to the act of maintaining, preserving , and holding onto something. Its specific meaning is nuanced by the context in which it's used, spanning diverse fields like business, education, medicine, and psychology. retention meaning , definition, what is retention : the act of keeping something: Learn more. Retention of clients or money is the process of ensuring that a policyholder remains a customer of the insurer or that money to be paid out remains in the insurer's accounts. What is retention ? Retention is the act of retaining, that is, holding onto or keeping possession of something, as in Kim noted the plant’s successful retention of water. Retention is also used to refer to the state of being retained or having the power to retain something, as in The lawyer was outraged by the police’s continued retention of ...