Penitentiary
noun
A place where people who have broken the law are kept as a punishment.
After being convicted of the crime, he was sent to the state penitentiary.
Often appears as...
- state penitentiary
- federal penitentiary
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Relating to the punishment of criminals by the judicial authority.
Under the penitentiary act, he could face life in prison.
Often appears as...
- penitentiary reform
- penitentiary act
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A place where people who have broken the law are kept as a punishment.
After being convicted of the crime, he was sent to the state penitentiary.
Often appears as...
- state penitentiary
- federal penitentiary
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Relating to the punishment of criminals by the judicial authority.
Under the penitentiary act, he could face life in prison.
Often appears as...
- penitentiary reform
- penitentiary act
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Scale
Penitentiaries generally imply severe punishment and are often reserved for serious offenses.
He was incarcerated in a penitentiary for his role in the armed robbery.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Depictions
Penitentiaries are portrayed in films and books as places with strict discipline and tough conditions.
The movie shows life inside a penitentiary as bleak and harsh.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Usage
Historically, 'penitentiary' pointed to where inmates repented, hence its religious undertones.
The old penitentiary was once a place where prisoners were encouraged to repent.
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Scale
Penitentiaries generally imply severe punishment and are often reserved for serious offenses.
He was incarcerated in a penitentiary for his role in the armed robbery.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Depictions
Penitentiaries are portrayed in films and books as places with strict discipline and tough conditions.
The movie shows life inside a penitentiary as bleak and harsh.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Usage
Historically, 'penitentiary' pointed to where inmates repented, hence its religious undertones.
The old penitentiary was once a place where prisoners were encouraged to repent.
Pro Tip 1/3Severity Scale
Penitentiaries generally imply severe punishment and are often reserved for serious offenses.
He was incarcerated in a penitentiary for his role in the armed robbery.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Depictions
Penitentiaries are portrayed in films and books as places with strict discipline and tough conditions.
The movie shows life inside a penitentiary as bleak and harsh.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Usage
Historically, 'penitentiary' pointed to where inmates repented, hence its religious undertones.
The old penitentiary was once a place where prisoners were encouraged to repent.
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Video examples
Dave Isay: Everyone...
to meet Oshea and find out who this person was who had taken her son's life. Slowly and remarkably, they became friends, and when he was finally released from the penitentiary, Oshea actually moved in next door to Mary. This is just a short excerpt of a conversation they had
Video examples
A giant bubble for...
penitentiary modern a maimed monument and and maimed mall for a maimed collection almost four decades later how would this building expand for a new progressive program where would it go can't go in the mall there is no space
Video examples
A juror's reflections on...
Driving to the penitentiary on the day of his execution, in my mind, Bobby was going to be manic. But, surprisingly, he was very calm. And for two hours, he and I sat there and talked about life,
Video examples
Prison Guard Preparation...
think he was caught off guard when they went in I don't think he was expecting it at all what happened next changed Wyoming State Penitentiary forever the inmates stabbed him repeatedly and
Video examples
Money Behind Bars PIPE...
to where they can't see in we'd be alright this is contraband this is a high contraband you could be taken to the whole for this this would be the penitentiary George Foreman grill
Video examples
Learning a new language...
of my interviewees is in a federal penitentiary maximum security and so he doesn't speak English so really I had no choice at all but as I said Portuguese is deceptive
Video examples
Desert Manhunt PIPE...
penitentiary the seven packs of marijuana will be destroyed it's been one more night of detect hunt down and arrest but life out here is cheap for drug
Video examples
Ruggels the Rebel PIPE...
respect in here is the most important number one thing that survived West Penitentiary prison yards are about territory territory you mark and hold
Video examples
Living the Prison Dream...
all right prisoner strip down quickly I know I was screwed - in a minute I set foot in a penitentiary - they take a strip and they get a strip
Video examples
Ghost Particles PIPE...
at Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary scientists are on a hunt for
Video examples
Dave Isay: Everyone...
to meet Oshea and find out who this person was who had taken her son's life. Slowly and remarkably, they became friends, and when he was finally released from the penitentiary, Oshea actually moved in next door to Mary. This is just a short excerpt of a conversation they had
Video examples
A giant bubble for...
penitentiary modern a maimed monument and and maimed mall for a maimed collection almost four decades later how would this building expand for a new progressive program where would it go can't go in the mall there is no space
Video examples
A juror's reflections on...
Driving to the penitentiary on the day of his execution, in my mind, Bobby was going to be manic. But, surprisingly, he was very calm. And for two hours, he and I sat there and talked about life,
Video examples
Prison Guard Preparation...
think he was caught off guard when they went in I don't think he was expecting it at all what happened next changed Wyoming State Penitentiary forever the inmates stabbed him repeatedly and
Video examples
Money Behind Bars PIPE...
to where they can't see in we'd be alright this is contraband this is a high contraband you could be taken to the whole for this this would be the penitentiary George Foreman grill
Video examples
Learning a new language...
of my interviewees is in a federal penitentiary maximum security and so he doesn't speak English so really I had no choice at all but as I said Portuguese is deceptive
Video examples
Desert Manhunt PIPE...
penitentiary the seven packs of marijuana will be destroyed it's been one more night of detect hunt down and arrest but life out here is cheap for drug
Video examples
Ruggels the Rebel PIPE...
respect in here is the most important number one thing that survived West Penitentiary prison yards are about territory territory you mark and hold
Video examples
Living the Prison Dream...
all right prisoner strip down quickly I know I was screwed - in a minute I set foot in a penitentiary - they take a strip and they get a strip
Video examples
Ghost Particles PIPE...
at Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary scientists are on a hunt for
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jim Brown
American Athlete
The need to be cared for is the base of everything. In the penitentiaries, you won't hear gangbangers and criminals say, 'No, I don't want to be cared for by nobody.' When you care about them, they'll open up to you.
Quote examples
Joseph Prince
Clergyman
Wrong believing puts people in a prison. Even though there are no physical shackles, wrong believing causes its inmates to behave as though they were incarcerated in a maximum-security penitentiary.
Quote examples
Florence Ellinwood Allen
American Judge
You have had indeed a fair trial. It is a shocking thing when a judge of your high office is shown to have betrayed the truth and his honor, and I sentence you to the penitentiary.
Quote examples
William Graham Sumner
American Businessman
The men who start out with the notion that the world owes them a living generally find that the world pays its debt in the penitentiary or the poor house.
Quote examples
William Tecumseh Sherman
American Soldier
If forced to choose between the penitentiary and the White House for four years, I would say the penitentiary, thank you.
Quote examples
Joe Jamail
American Businessman
I sent people to the penitentiary as fast as I could, never thinking about whether they deserved it.
Quote examples
Margaret Trudeau
Canadian Author
I thought of 24 Sussex Drive as the crown jewel of the federal penitentiary system.
Quote examples
Babe Ruth
American Baseball Player
If it wasn't for baseball, I'd be in either the penitentiary or the cemetery.
Quote examples
Lee J. Cobb
American Actor
If this gesture was the way of getting out of the penitentiary, I'd do it.
Quote examples
Suge Knight
American Producer
I am in the penitentiary. The only thing that I do is my time.
Quote examples
Jim Brown
American Athlete
The need to be cared for is the base of everything. In the penitentiaries, you won't hear gangbangers and criminals say, 'No, I don't want to be cared for by nobody.' When you care about them, they'll open up to you.
Quote examples
Joseph Prince
Clergyman
Wrong believing puts people in a prison. Even though there are no physical shackles, wrong believing causes its inmates to behave as though they were incarcerated in a maximum-security penitentiary.
Quote examples
Florence Ellinwood Allen
American Judge
You have had indeed a fair trial. It is a shocking thing when a judge of your high office is shown to have betrayed the truth and his honor, and I sentence you to the penitentiary.
Quote examples
William Graham Sumner
American Businessman
The men who start out with the notion that the world owes them a living generally find that the world pays its debt in the penitentiary or the poor house.
Quote examples
William Tecumseh Sherman
American Soldier
If forced to choose between the penitentiary and the White House for four years, I would say the penitentiary, thank you.
Quote examples
Joe Jamail
American Businessman
I sent people to the penitentiary as fast as I could, never thinking about whether they deserved it.
Quote examples
Margaret Trudeau
Canadian Author
I thought of 24 Sussex Drive as the crown jewel of the federal penitentiary system.
Quote examples
Babe Ruth
American Baseball Player
If it wasn't for baseball, I'd be in either the penitentiary or the cemetery.
Quote examples
Lee J. Cobb
American Actor
If this gesture was the way of getting out of the penitentiary, I'd do it.
Quote examples
Suge Knight
American Producer
I am in the penitentiary. The only thing that I do is my time.
Example 1 of 10
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