What term is used to describe the unlawful detainment of a person without legal authority?

The term that specifically refers to the unlawful detainment of a person without legal authority is false imprisonment. This legal concept encompasses the unlawful restraint of a person against their will. It involves not only the physical act of restraining someone but also the deprivation of their freedom to move or leave a location without legal justification.

False imprisonment can occur in various contexts, including situations where someone is held against their will in a private or public space, whether through physical force, threats, or false assertions of legal authority. The essence of false imprisonment lies in the lack of consent and the absence of lawful justification for the detention.

While "unlawful restraint," "kidnapping," and "illegal detention" touch upon related themes of confinement or control, they do not capture the specific legal definitions and implications associated with false imprisonment. Unlawful restraint generally refers to preventing someone from leaving but may not imply the same legal consequences. Kidnapping involves additional factors, such as the intent to ransom or harm the victim, thus being a more serious crime. Illegal detention could cover a broader range of unlawful hold scenarios but doesn't specifically convey the lack of legal authority that is captured by false imprisonment.