penitentiary

noun

ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)rē How to pronounce penitentiary (audio)
Definition of penitentiarynext
as in prison
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of penitentiary After a federal jury voted to convict him in early 2024, Hernández was sent to a notorious high-security penitentiary in West Virginia to serve his time. — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 11 June 2026 This includes providing the Colombian military more leeway in the field, signing a new security agreement with Washington and building 10 mega-prisons that mimic Bukele’s network of penitentiaries in El Salvador. — Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026 The government opened the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz in 1934, hoping to use the remote island to house particularly difficult prisoners, according to the National Park Service. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2026 Mike Braun opened the Speedway Slammer at an Indiana prison, Jim Pillen opened the Cornhusker Clink at a Nebraska work camp, and Jeff Landry opened the Louisiana Lockup in a disused wing of Angola penitentiary. — Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitentiary
  1. prison
  2. jail
Noun
  • The pair, who were detained in March, had already spent four months in prison prior to the punishment, which ultimately reduced their sentence from 25 lashes to 21, the AP said.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Taylor, 30, now faces a potential sentence of life in prison.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Definition of prison
Noun
  • The driver of the fleeing vehicle was booked into the Wyandotte County Detention Center, according to the jail’s inmate listing.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • Epstein served about 13 months in a Florida jail, and was often permitted to leave the jail on work release.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of jail

Browse Nearby Words

penitentiaries
penitentiary
penman
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Cite this Entry

“Penitentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitentiary. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on penitentiary

Nglish: Translation of penitentiary for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about penitentiary

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