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Meaning of penitentiary
A penitentiary is a place where people are confined as a form of punishment for crimes they have committed.
Etymology of penitentiary
The word "penitentiary" comes from the Latin "paenitentia," meaning repentance, and the suffix "-ary," which forms a noun indicating a place or a person associated with a particular activity or quality.
Historically, the term emerged in the 18th century, reflecting the idea that imprisonment should not only punish but also provide an opportunity for reflection and reform, hence "penitentiary."
Synonyms
prison
jail
correctional facility
detention center
reformatory
lockup
stockade
brig
cellblock
dungeon
gaol
hoosegow
calaboose
pokey
slammer
clink
joint
big house
federal prison
state prison
county jail
holding cell
maximum security prison
minimum security prison
juvenile detention center
halfway house
rehabilitation center
correctional institution
penal institution
pen
confinement
incarceration facility
Definitions
- A penitentiary is a prison, especially one for long-term confinement, where inmates are held to reflect on their actions and potentially reform.
- * It is an institution for the confinement of persons convicted of serious crimes, typically characterized by a focus on punishment and rehabilitation.
Usage Examples
- The judge sentenced the defendant to five years in the state penitentiary for the crime.
- * The penitentiary system has been criticized for its failure to rehabilitate inmates effectively.
- * The old penitentiary building has been converted into a museum, offering tours to the public.
Antonyms
freedom
liberty
release
pardon
parole
probation
acquittal
innocence
exemption
immunity
reprieve
clemency
amnesty
bail
bond
discharge
exoneration
vindication
absolution
liberation
emancipation