dictionary.pt
penitentiary
nounfemininegeneral usecommon/pɨ.ni.tẽ.si.a.ɾi.ɐ/pe·ni·ten·ci·á·ri·a
Definition
1A prison for serious offenders, especially one for long-term confinement.
Usage examples
“He was sentenced to life in a federal penitentiary.”
“The state penitentiary is overcrowded.”
Synonyms
Common combinations
federal penitentiarystate penitentiarymaximum-security penitentiary