penitentiary

As nouns the difference between penitentiary and asylum

is that penitentiary is (us) a state or federal prison for convicted felons while asylum is a place of safety.

As an adjective penitentiary

is of or relating to penance; penitential.

As nouns the difference between penitentiary and workhouse

is that penitentiary is (us) a state or federal prison for convicted felons while workhouse is (label) formerly, an institution for the poor homeless, funded by the local parish where the able-bodied were required to work ^(w).

As an adjective penitentiary

is of or relating to penance; penitential.

As nouns the difference between penitentiary and tension

is that penitentiary is (us) a state or federal prison for convicted felons while tension is tension.

As an adjective penitentiary

is of or relating to penance; penitential.

As nouns the difference between penitentiary and pessimist

is that penitentiary is (us) a state or federal prison for convicted felons while pessimist is pessimist.

As an adjective penitentiary

is of or relating to penance; penitential.

As nouns the difference between incarceration and penitentiary

is that incarceration is the act of confining, or the state of being confined; imprisonment while penitentiary is a state or federal prison for convicted felons.

As an adjective penitentiary is

of or relating to penance; penitential.

In obsolete terms the difference between penitentiary and institution

is that penitentiary is an officer in some dioceses since 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him while institution is that which institutes or instructs; a textbook or system of elements or rules.

As nouns the difference between penitentiary and institution

is that penitentiary is a state or federal prison for convicted felons while institution is an established organisation, especially one dedicated to education, public service, culture or the care of the destitute, poor etc.

As an adjective penitentiary

is of or relating to penance; penitential.

As nouns the difference between penitentiary and reformatory

is that penitentiary is a state or federal prison for convicted felons while reformatory is a prison, especially one for juveniles; a reform school.

As adjectives the difference between penitentiary and reformatory

is that penitentiary is of or relating to penance; penitential while reformatory is of, pertaining to, or conducive to reform; reformative.

As adjectives the difference between penultimate and penitentiary

is that penultimate is next to last, second to last; immediately preceding the end of a sequence, list, etc while penitentiary is of or relating to penance; penitential.

As nouns the difference between penultimate and penitentiary

is that penultimate is a penult, a next-to-last thing, particularly while penitentiary is a state or federal prison for convicted felons.

As nouns the difference between jail and penitentiary

is that jail is a place for the confinement of persons held in lawful custody or detention, especially for minor offenses or with reference to some future judicial proceeding while penitentiary is (us) a state or federal prison for convicted felons.

As a verb jail

is to imprison.

As an adjective penitentiary is

of or relating to penance; penitential.