PENITENTIARY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does penitentiary mean? 

• PENITENTIARY (noun)
  The noun PENITENTIARY has 1 sense:

1. a correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes

  Familiarity information: PENITENTIARY used as a noun is very rare.

• PENITENTIARY (adjective)
  The adjective PENITENTIARY has 2 senses:

1. used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers

2. showing or constituting penance

  Familiarity information: PENITENTIARY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PENITENTIARY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

pen; penitentiary

Hypernyms ("penitentiary" is a kind of...):

correctional institution (a penal institution maintained by the government)

Derivation:

penitentiary (used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers)

• PENITENTIARY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers

Context example:

penitentiary institutions

Similar:

punitive; punitory (inflicting punishment)

Derivation:

penitence (remorse for your past conduct)

penitentiary (a correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Showing or constituting penance

Synonyms:

penitential; penitentiary

Context example:

wrote a penitential letter apologizing for her hasty words

Similar:

penitent; repentant (feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds)

 Context examples 

Snell was there three days before he went to the penitentiary, so drunk out on the gravel drive that Mrs. Ulysses Swett's automobile ran over his right hand.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)