noun
Uncommon
dungeon
DUHN-juhn
Dungeon (noun) means a dark, often underground prison cell, typically found beneath an old castle. Example: “The prisoners were dragged down into the castle's dungeon.”
noun
1
A dark, often underground prison cell, typically found beneath an old castle.
"The prisoners were dragged down into the castle's dungeon."
"Tourists can still visit the damp stone dungeon under the fortress."
2
In video games, an area full of enemies, hazards, and treasure that players must fight through.
"The party spent hours clearing the final dungeon before facing the boss."
How to use dungeon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA grim underground cell for prisoners, or (in games) a hazard-filled area to explore and fight through.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
throw someone in a dungeon
dungeon crawl
clear a dungeon
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Word forms
- Plural
- dungeons
- Third person singular
- dungeons
- Past tense
- dungeoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The prisoners were dragged down into the castle's _____.
Etymology
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.
Related words
Rhymes for dungeon
See all rhymes for dungeon →Frequently asked questions
What does “dungeon” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “dungeon”?
“Dungeon” is pronounced DUHN-juhn (/ˈdʌn.d͡ʒən/ in IPA).
How do you use “dungeon” in a sentence?
Here is “dungeon” used in a sentence: “The prisoners were dragged down into the castle's dungeon.”
What part of speech is “dungeon”?
“Dungeon” is a noun.
Where does the word “dungeon” come from?
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.
Is “dungeon” a common word?
“Dungeon” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dungeon” have?
“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.
What is the difference between a dungeon and a prison?
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.
What does dungeon mean in video games?
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.
Is dungeon always used to describe something underground?
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.
