Definition
The degree to which a learner holds onto knowledge and physical skills over time after instruction has ended. Retention depends on how well the material was originally learned, how meaningful it was to the learner, how often it is practiced or used, and how recently it was last reviewed. Skills that are practiced regularly and tied to real understanding are retained well; skills that were memorized superficially or rarely used fade quickly.
Plain English
How much of what was taught a student can still do or remember later on. Things learned deeply and used often stick. Things crammed once and never used drop away.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight instruction when an instructor checks whether a student can still perform maneuvers, procedures, or cockpit tasks after earlier lessons.
Derivation
Retention comes from the Latin retinere, meaning to hold back or keep. The instructional sense is the same idea: what the student keeps hold of after the lesson is over.
Why Pilots Care
Strong retention supports safer operations, reduces the need for frequent remedial training, and improves long-term proficiency.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a skill is retained just because the student performed it once. Retention means the student can still perform it correctly later.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor scheduled a short review of stall recoveries before the next lesson because retention of skills drops noticeably after a two-week gap.
Example Sentence 2
Without regular flights, a pilot may notice reduced retention of skills during emergency procedure drills.