How do I get details about a package which isn't installed?

For packages that are in your repositories you can use:

dpkg --print-avail PACKAGE_NAME

apt-cache show PACKAGE_NAME

aptitude show PACKAGE_NAME

apt show PACKAGE_NAME

The apt-cache show command can be used, instead of dpkg -s. Like this:

apt-cache show PACKAGE

(source)

apt show

Or for more details

apt show -a

This will show only the description:

LANG=C apt show -a "$PKGNAME"|grep Description: -A99

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