penology

noun

pe·​nol·​o·​gy pi-ˈnä-lə-jē How to pronounce penology (audio)
: a branch of criminology dealing with prison management and the treatment of offenders
penological adjective
penologist noun

Examples of penology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This is one of the most successful outcomes known to contemporary penology. Barry Latzer, WSJ, 27 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek poinē penalty + English -logy — more at pain entry 1

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of penology was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near penology

Cite this Entry

“Penology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penology. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

penology

noun
pe·​nol·​o·​gy pi-ˈnäl-ə-jē How to pronounce penology (audio)
plural penologies
: a branch of criminology dealing with prison management and the treatment of offenders
penological adjective

Legal Definition

penology

noun
pe·​nol·​o·​gy pi-ˈnä-lə-jē How to pronounce penology (audio)
: a branch of criminology dealing with prison management and the treatment of offenders
penological adjective
penologist noun

More from Merriam-Webster on penology

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