1. Word Games
  2. Word of the Day
  3. New Words & Slang
  4. Video
 

penitentiary


2pen·i·ten·tia·ry

adj
\ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)rē, 1 also -ˈten(t)-shē-ˌer-ē\

Definition of PENITENTIARY

1
: penitential
2
: of, relating to, or incurring confinement in a penitentiary

First Known Use of PENITENTIARY

1577

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with PENITENTIARY

beneficiary, devolutionary, eleemosynary, evidentiary, evolutionary, extraliterary, insurrectionary, intermediary, paramilitary, quatercentenary, revolutionary, sesquicentenary, supernumerary, valetudinary

Learn More About PENITENTIARY

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: penk
Previous Word in the Dictionary: penitential psalm
All Words Near: penitentiary

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up penitentiary? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Join Us on FB & Twitter

Get the Word of the Day and More

Facebook | Twitter

Get Our Free Apps

Voice Search, Favorites,
Word of the Day, and More

iPhone | iPad | Android | More