penitentiary
Penitentiary (noun) means a state or federal prison, especially one for people convicted of serious crimes. Example: “He was sentenced to ten years in the state penitentiary.”
How to use penitentiary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal word for prison, usually one for serious offenders.
More formal/official-sounding than "prison" or "jail" — common in legal and government contexts.
Word forms
penitentiaries plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was sentenced to ten years in the state _____.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin pēnitentiārius, "place of penitence" — the word was adopted by Quakers in colonial Pennsylvania to describe a place where offenders could reflect on their wrongdoing.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for penitentiary
See all rhymes for penitentiary →Frequently asked questions
What does “penitentiary” mean?
The word “penitentiary” means a state or federal prison, especially one for people convicted of serious crimes. In plain terms, a formal word for prison, usually one for serious offenders.
How do you pronounce “penitentiary”?
“Penitentiary” is pronounced peh-nih-TEHN-shuh-ree (/ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “penitentiary” in a sentence?
Here is “penitentiary” used in a sentence: “He was sentenced to ten years in the state penitentiary.”
What part of speech is “penitentiary”?
Depending on how it is used, “penitentiary” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “penitentiary” come from?
The word “penitentiary” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin pēnitentiārius, "place of penitence" — the word was adopted by Quakers in colonial Pennsylvania to describe a place where offenders could reflect on their wrongdoing.
Is “penitentiary” a common word?
“Penitentiary” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “penitentiary” have?
“Penitentiary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a state or federal prison, especially one for people convicted of serious crimes.