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The words for two different parts of a castle come from the same source. The word dungeon, meaning “a dark usually underground prison,” comes from the French word donjon, which also gives us our English word donjon, meaning “an inner tower in a castle.” Dungeon was first used in English in the 14th century for the strong tower in the inner part of the castle. Defenders could retreat to this tower if attackers got inside the castle walls. Part of the tower usually included an underground room, the dungeon, usually used for prisoners. Throughout its history, the word dungeon has had many spellings. Sometimes it was spelled donjon like the French word it comes from, and sometimes in other ways. In time the spelling donjon came to be used mostly for the castle tower, and the spelling dungeon mostly for the underground room or prison.
Examples of dungeon in a Sentence
Ars Technica, 26 Feb. 2025
Accra, Ghana: In Ghana’s capital, follow a visit to a castle where captives waiting to be taken to the New World were held in dank dungeons with a trip to the Black Star of Africa sitting atop an arch, announcing Ghana’s independence.
—Gerald Narciso Jeremie Souteyrat, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
The totem is in the depths of this dungeon so check every nook and cranny.
Idol of Covert Plots
The idol is in a broken house in the Grim Wetlands, just east of the Infested Camp.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
Visitors to the Château de Couches, also known as the castle of Marguerite of Burgundy, can tour the dungeon and Gothic chapel and attend concerts, workshops, and all kinds of holiday festivities, including celebrations for Halloween and Christmas.
—Kimberley Lovato, AFAR Media, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dungeon
Cite this Entry
“Dungeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dungeon. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Middle English donjon "tower in a castle, dungeon," from early French donjon "castle tower" — related to donjon
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