penitentiary
penitentiary
nounDefinition of PENITENTIARY
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody <a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery>
Synonyms bastille, big house [slang], bridewell, brig, calaboose, can, clink [slang], cooler, coop, guardroom, hock, hold, hoosegow, jailhouse, joint [slang], jug, lockup, nick [British slang], pen, penitentiary, pokey [slang], prison, quod [British slang], slam, slammer, stir [slang], stockade, tolbooth [Scottish]
Related Words bull pen, cage, cell, hole, tank; block, ward; glasshouse [British], guardhouse, hulk(s); concentration camp, gulag, labor camp, prison camp, stalag, work camp; dungeon, keep, oubliette; reformatory, reform school, training school
Near Antonyms outside
Learn More About
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up penitentiary? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
