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

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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 From 1873 to 1991, the island served as Costa Rica’s principal penitentiary, where some of the country’s worst criminals were sent to serve often short and torturous sentences. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 24 July 2026 Hodge says he was abused in multiple federal penitentiaries, but was frequently blocked from filing complaints about it. — Christie Thompson, NPR, 13 July 2026 The red-brick Hoshinoya Nara Prison was built in 1908 and, as its name makes quite clear, was previously a penitentiary. — Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitentiary
  1. prison
  2. jail
Noun
  • Adan Osman Salat, 23, was sentenced to two years fixed and a possible 15 years on probation or in prison by 3rd District Judge Gabriel McCarthy, according to online court records and audio obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026
  • When the brothers arrived in court two days later, the jewel tones were ditched, and each wore a drab tan prison jumpsuit.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of prison
Noun
  • Matus’ death took place at the height of the fentanyl epidemic in 2022, when Riverside County jails experienced close to 100 inmate drug overdoses, seven of which resulted in death, according to court documents.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In 2025, a Kentucky man was killed after he was hit 27 times with a GLOVE by jail employees, on top of 13 jabs from a taser, which ultimately sent him into cardiac arrest.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on penitentiary

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about penitentiary

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