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Penitentiary: meaning, definitions and examples

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penitentiary

 

[ ˌpenɪˈtɛnʃ(ə)ri ]

Noun / Adjective
Context #1 | Noun

criminal justice system

A penitentiary is a prison for people who have been convicted of serious crimes. It is a high-security facility where inmates serve their sentences.

Synonyms

correctional facility, jail, prison

Examples of usage

  • The notorious criminal was sentenced to life in a penitentiary.
  • Visitors are not allowed inside the penitentiary without proper authorization.
Context #2 | Adjective

related to punishment

Penitentiary can also be used as an adjective to describe something related to punishment or correction, especially in a legal context.

Synonyms

corrective, punitive

Examples of usage

  • The judge imposed a penitentiary sentence on the convicted felon.
  • She underwent penitentiary rehabilitation programs to reform her behavior.

Translations

Translations of the word "penitentiary" in other languages:

🇵🇹 penitenciária

🇮🇳 कारागार

🇩🇪 Gefängnis

🇮🇩 penjara

🇺🇦 пенітенціарний заклад

🇵🇱 zakład karny

🇯🇵 刑務所 (けいむしょ)

🇫🇷 pénitencier

🇪🇸 penitenciaría

🇹🇷 cezaevi

🇰🇷 교도소 (gyodoso)

🇸🇦 سجن

🇨🇿 věznice

🇸🇰 väznica

🇨🇳 监狱 (jiānyù)

🇸🇮 kaznilnica

🇮🇸 fangelsi

🇰🇿 түрме

🇬🇪 ციხე

🇦🇿 cəzaxana

🇲🇽 penitenciaría

Etymology

The word 'penitentiary' originated from the Latin word 'paenitentia', meaning penance or repentance. In the early days, penitentiaries were often associated with religious institutions and were meant to provide a place for prisoners to reflect on their sins and seek redemption. Over time, the concept evolved into a more secular form of incarceration focused on punishment and rehabilitation.

See also: penitence, penitently.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #12,523, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.