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Prison vs Penitentiary - What's the difference?

prison | penitentiary |

As nouns the difference between prison and penitentiary

is that prison is a place of long-term confinement for those convicted of serious crimes, or otherwise considered undesirable by the government while penitentiary is a state or federal prison for convicted felons.

As a verb prison

is to imprison.

As an adjective penitentiary is

of or relating to penance; penitential.

prison

English

(wikipedia prison)

Noun

  • A place of long-term confinement for those convicted of serious crimes, or otherwise considered undesirable by the government.
    • The cold stone walls of the prison had stood for over a century.
  • (uncountable) Confinement in prison.
    • Prison was a harrowing experience for him.
  • (colloquial) Any restrictive environment, such as a harsh academy or home.
    • The academy was a prison for many of its students because of its strict teachers.

    Synonyms

    * (place) bridewell; see also . * (confinement) imprisonment

    Coordinate terms

    * (place) gaol, jail

    Derived terms

    * imprison * prison camp * prison cell * prison chaser * prisoner * prison guard * prisonhouse * prison officer * prison record * prison sentence * prison warden

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To imprison.

    • Anagrams

    * * * 1000 English basic words ----

    penitentiary

    English

    Noun

    (penitentiaries)
  • (US) A state or federal prison for convicted felons.
  • A priest in the Roman Catholic Church who administers the sacrament of penance.
  • (obsolete) One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
    • (Francis Bacon)
  • (obsolete) One who does penance.
    • (Hammond)
  • (obsolete) A small building in a monastery, or a part of a church, where penitents confessed.
    • (Shipley)
  • (obsolete) An office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc.; run by a cardinal called the Grand Penitentiary who is appointed by the pope.
  • (obsolete) An officer in some dioceses since 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.

    • Synonyms

    * (prison) pen

    Related terms

    * pen

    External links

    *

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Of or relating to penance; penitential.
  • * Archbishop Bramhall:
    • A penitentiary tax.
  • Of or relating to the punishment of criminals.
  • * Blackstone:
    • Penitentiary houses.

    Coordinate terms

    * carceral