dungeon

The word “dungeon” means a dark, often underground prison cell, typically found beneath an old castle. In plain terms, a grim underground cell for prisoners, or (in games) a hazard-filled area to explore and fight through.

“Dungeon” is pronounced DUHN-juhn (/ˈdʌn.d͡ʒən/ in IPA).

Here is “dungeon” used in a sentence: “The prisoners were dragged down into the castle's dungeon.”

“Dungeon” is a noun.

The word “dungeon” comes from Latin. From Old French donjon, "castle keep," from Latin dominus, "lord" — originally the lord's central tower, which later became associated with the prison cells often held there.

“Dungeon” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Dungeon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dark, often underground prison cell, typically found beneath an old castle.

A dungeon specifically refers to a dark, often underground cell historically found beneath old castles, while a prison is a broader modern term for any facility used to hold people convicted of crimes. Dungeons are generally associated with historical or fictional settings rather than modern justice systems.

In video games, a dungeon is an area, often maze-like or underground, filled with enemies, hazards, and treasure that players must fight or navigate through, a convention especially common in role-playing games.

While dungeon traditionally implies an underground prison cell beneath a castle, in modern usage, especially in games, it can describe any enclosed, hazard-filled area regardless of whether it is literally underground.