Dungeon: meaning, definitions and examples

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dungeon

[ ˈdʌnʤən ]

^{Context #1}

fantasy game setting

A strong, dark underground prison, usually with tunnels and cells, often used for keeping prisoners or animals.

Synonyms

cellar, jail, prison

Examples of usage

The hero had to navigate through the dungeon filled with traps and monsters.
The treasure was hidden deep in the dungeon, guarded by a fierce dragon.

^{Context #2}

historical context

A dark, often underground, medieval prison or vault, typically used for political prisoners or torture.

Synonyms

dungeon cell, keep, oubliette

Examples of usage

The captured rebel was thrown into the dungeon and left to rot.
The dungeon in the castle was notorious for its cruel treatment of prisoners.

Translations

Translations of the word "dungeon" in other languages:

🇵🇹 masmorra

🇮🇳 कालकोठरी

🇩🇪 Verlies

🇮🇩 penjara bawah tanah

🇺🇦 підземелля

🇵🇱 lochy

🇯🇵 ダンジョン

🇫🇷 donjon

🇪🇸 mazmorra

🇹🇷 zindan

🇰🇷 던전

🇸🇦 زنزانة

🇨🇿 dungeon

🇸🇰 dungeon

🇨🇳 地牢

🇸🇮 ječa

🇮🇸 dýflissa

🇰🇿 зындан

🇬🇪 კამერა

🇦🇿 zindan

🇲🇽 mazmorra

Word origin

The word 'dungeon' originated from the Old French word 'donjon', meaning 'keep' or 'main tower of a castle'. In medieval times, dungeons were not only used for punishment but also as a means of securing valuable prisoners or loot. The concept of dungeons has been popularized in fantasy literature and games, where they are often depicted as mysterious and dangerous locations filled with traps and monsters.