Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
penitentiary
noun
/ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəri/
Definition
A facility for the confinement of people convicted of serious crimes.
Examples
- The state penitentiary housed hundreds of inmates.
- After being convicted, he was sent to a maximum-security penitentiary.
- She volunteered at a local penitentiary to help with rehabilitation programs.
Meaning
A penitentiary is a prison, especially one for long-term incarceration, where individuals are held for committing felonies or other significant offenses.
Synonyms
- prison
- correctional facility
- jail
- detention center
- confinement facility
