Penitentiary
ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəri
Definitions
A prison for people convicted of serious crimes.
ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəri
A state or federal prison.
He was sent to the state penitentiary for armed robbery.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone did something really, really bad, and they have to go to a special, locked-up place as punishment. That place is called a penitentiary. It's like a timeout for grown-ups, but much stricter.
👶 For kids: A big, locked-up house where people who did something bad have to stay for a while.
More Examples
The overcrowded penitentiary was struggling to manage the influx of inmates.
Conditions in the penitentiary were reported to be inhumane.
How It's Used
"The defendant was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary."
"News reports detailed the conditions inside the overcrowded penitentiary."
From Late Latin *paenitentiarius* ('penitentiary'), relating to penitence. It originally referred to a place for doing penance but evolved to a place of confinement and punishment.
Historically used in legal and religious texts referring to places of punishment or reform; however, the term has evolved over time, and the connotation is primarily one of confinement for serious criminal activity.
Memory tip
Think of 'penitence' and 'entiary' (place). It's a place where people are sent for punishment and to reflect on their wrongdoings.
Word Origin
"relating to penitence or repentance"