Definition

1. Noun:

   • A correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes: A penitentiary is a state or federal prison designed for long-term confinement and rehabilitation of individuals convicted of serious felonies.

2. Adjective:

   • Used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers: Describing something related to or intended for the punishment and correction of offenders.
   • Showing or constituting penance; penitential: Relating to or expressing remorse for wrongdoing. (This sense is now less common and often overlaps with the word "penitential").

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He was sentenced to twenty years in a federal penitentiary.
  • The state's oldest penitentiary was known for its harsh conditions.

• Adjective:

  • The penitentiary system aims to reform inmates.
  • She wrote a penitentiary letter to the court, expressing her deep regret. (Here, "penitentiary" is used in its older, penitential sense).

Advanced Usage

• "Supermax penitentiary": A type of maximum-security prison designed to house the most dangerous inmates under restrictive conditions.
  • The notorious criminal was transferred to a supermax penitentiary.

Variants and Related Words

• Penitence (n): The action of feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentance.
• Penitent (adj/n): Feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; a person who repents their sins.
• Penitentially (adv): In a manner expressing penitence or regret.

Synonyms

• Noun: Prison, correctional facility, penal institution, jail (though "jail" is often for short-term or pre-trial detention).
• Adjective (reform sense): Correctional, penal, reformatory.
• Adjective (penitential sense): Repentant, contrite, remorseful.

Related Phrases

• "Sent to the penitentiary": The common phrase for receiving a sentence of imprisonment in a state or federal prison.
  • After the guilty verdict, he was immediately sent to the penitentiary.

Related Idioms

• "Penitentiary face": (Informal, dated) A serious, somber, or guilty-looking expression.
  • He wore a penitentiary face after being caught in the lie.

Adjective

1. showing or constituting penance
   • penitential tears
   • wrote a penitential letter apologizing for her hasty words
2. used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers
   • penitentiary institutions

Noun

1. a correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes