Word: Penal Institution
Definition: A penal institution is a place where people are kept as a punishment for committing crimes. It is designed to help protect society by keeping dangerous individuals away from the public.
Usage Instructions: You can use "penal institution" when talking about places like prisons or jails. It's a formal term often used in legal contexts.
Example Sentence: After being found guilty of theft, he was sentenced to five years in a penal institution.
Advanced Usage: In legal discussions, you might encounter terms like "correctional facility," which is similar to "penal institution" but emphasizes rehabilitation rather than just punishment.
Word Variants: - Penal (adjective): Related to punishment. For example, "penal code" refers to the set of laws that define crimes and punishments. - Institution (noun): A large organization that has a specific purpose, often related to education, public services, or punishment.
Different Meaning: The word "penal" by itself relates to punishment and can be used in various contexts: - Penal Law: Laws concerning crimes and their punishments. - Penal System: The entire system of laws and institutions that deal with crimes and punishments.
Synonyms: - Correctional facility - Prison - Jail - Detention center
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: - "Behind bars": This idiom means to be in prison. For example, "He spent three years behind bars for his crime." - "Pay your debt to society": This phrase means to serve time in a penal institution or to fulfill the punishment for a crime.