Penitentiary

Pronunciation: /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛntʃəriː/

Penitentiary (noun)

  1. a large prison where people are kept as punishment for crimes.
  2. a place where people go for religious penance and reflection.

Examples

  • The penitentiary was surrounded by high walls.
  • Inmates in the penitentiary followed a strict schedule.

Common collocations: maximum security penitentiary, serve time in a penitentiary, escape from the penitentiary, join a penitentiary, penitentiary life

Synonyms of Penitentiary

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Antonyms of Penitentiary

  • — referring to the state of being free