penitentiary

1 of 2

noun

pen·​i·​ten·​tia·​ry ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)rē 

plural penitentiaries

1

a

: an officer in some Roman Catholic dioceses vested with power from the bishop to deal with cases of a nature normally handled only by the bishop

b

Penitentiary : a cardinal presiding over a tribunal of the Roman curia (see curia sense 3) concerned with dispensations (see dispensation sense 2) and indulgences

2

: a public institution in which offenders against the law are confined for detention or punishment

specifically : a state or federal prison in the U.S.

a federal penitentiary in Virginia

penitentiary

2 of 2

adjective

pen·​i·​ten·​tia·​ry ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)rē 

sense 1 also -ˈten(t)-shē-ˌer-ē

1

: penitential

2

: of, relating to, or incurring confinement in a penitentiary

Synonyms of penitentiary

Noun

• prison
• jail

Examples of penitentiary in a Sentence

Noun

a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As convicts were sent to the new Cummins and Tucker prison farms, the penitentiary mostly served as a receiving depot where convicts were initially processed. —Arkansas Online, 22 Nov. 2025

Rhoden's biggest political victory this year was getting the state Legislature to sign off on a $650 million plan in September to replace the 141-year-old state penitentiary, an issue the Legislature had quarreled over for years. —CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

Adjective

The penitentiary grounds were expanded in late 1875 by adding four city blocks and 10 acres west of the existing facility, which would include a 25-foot-high wall and a new cell block that could hold 232 inmates. —Arkansas Online, 22 Nov. 2025

Turbina is deeply fearful of the toll the penitentiary system may take on her son. —Anna Chernova, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English penitenciary, from Medieval Latin poenitentiarius, from poenitentia

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for penitentiary

• century
• plenipotentiary

Kids Definition

penitentiary

noun

pen·​i·​ten·​tia·​ry

ˌpen-ə-ˈtench-(ə-)rē

plural penitentiaries

: a usually state or federal prison in which criminals are kept

Legal Definition

penitentiary

noun

pen·​i·​ten·​tia·​ry ˌpe-nə-ˈten-chə-rē 

plural penitentiaries

: a state or federal prison for the punishment and reformation of convicted felons compare house of correction, house of detention, jail, lockup