as in prison
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery
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Recent Examples of penitentiary
The judge also said that attempted criminal homicide carries a possible sentence of 15 to 60 years in a Tennessee state penitentiary, the outlets reported.
—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
In the early 1970s, the penitentiary remained poorly funded, and prison officials hoped to make money on the rodeo.
—
Arkansas Online,
9 May 2026
Local flavor The Idaho Botanical Garden is located next to the penitentiary and boasts more than 30 acres of gardens.
—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
The government opened the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz in 1934, hoping to use the remote island to house particularly difficult prisoners, according to the National Park Service.
—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
In the early 1970s, the penitentiary remained poorly funded, and prison officials hoped to make money on the rodeo.
—
Arkansas Online,
9 May 2026
Local flavor The Idaho Botanical Garden is located next to the penitentiary and boasts more than 30 acres of gardens.
—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
The government opened the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz in 1934, hoping to use the remote island to house particularly difficult prisoners, according to the National Park Service.
—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penitentiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penitentiary
Noun
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The pair, who were detained in March, had already spent four months in prison prior to the punishment, which ultimately reduced their sentence from 25 lashes to 21, the AP said.
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Taylor, 30, now faces a potential sentence of life in prison.
Noun
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The driver of the fleeing vehicle was booked into the Wyandotte County Detention Center, according to the jail’s inmate listing.
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Epstein served about 13 months in a Florida jail, and was often permitted to leave the jail on work release.
Cite this Entry
“Penitentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitentiary. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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