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
capitalized
: 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
pen·i·ten·tia·ry
ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)rē
sense 1 also -ˈten(t)-shē-ˌer-ē
1
2
: of, relating to, or incurring confinement in a penitentiary
Synonyms
Noun
Examples of penitentiary in a Sentence
Noun
a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery
Recent Examples on the Web
Sean Neumann, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024
In Texas, Travis Mullis was pronounced dead at the state penitentiary in Huntsville at 7:01 p.m. for the killing of his 3-month-old son.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2024
Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 1 June 2023
Judge Octavio Rothschuh Andino announced the release of at least 222 inmates by the Nicaraguan penitentiary system at a press conference on Thursday, saying several were already en route to the US.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 9 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for penitentiary 
Noun
Garcia Glenn White was pronounced dead shortly before 7 p.m. local time at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, according to CBS News, The Associated Press, and USA Today.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024
In Texas, Travis Mullis was pronounced dead at the state penitentiary in Huntsville at 7:01 p.m. for the killing of his 3-month-old son.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2024
Adjective
These letters, as in any penitentiary institution in the world, are read and censored.
—Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 1 June 2023
Judge Octavio Rothschuh Andino announced the release of at least 222 inmates by the Nicaraguan penitentiary system at a press conference on Thursday, saying several were already en route to the US.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 9 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for penitentiary
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penitentiary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Penitentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penitentiary. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal 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
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