Forcible Entry. In law, the phrase forcible entry and detainer means the unlawful and violent entry upon and taking possession or keeping of lands or tenements, with actual or threatened force or violence. In nearly all, and indeed, in some form, in all our states, there are laws respecting this, which are usually very stringent, i. It is regarded generally as an offence and made indictable, or treated as being so at common law. 2. An action is given for damages, or remedial process provided, by means of which the party entitled to possession may have it with the least delay compatible with sufficient inquiry into questions of right and title. The entry and detainer are usually spoken of together; but it seems to be settled that they are distinct offences. The Roman civil law, in its anxiety to preserve the peace of the community, made it a punishable offence even in an owner of an estate to take forcible and violent possession of it.