as in prison
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery
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Recent Examples of penitentiary
Ultimately, Hazzard was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to perform hard labor at a state penitentiary in Walla Walla, Wash.
—
Sean Neumann, People.com, 5 Jan. 2025
Kingstown follows the powerful family in a fictional Michigan town: Kingstown, Michigan, a city whose main industry is nine penitentiaries.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
The staff at Lee penitentiary is 98% White, according to the bureau, and multiple people said that guards seemed to be especially hostile to Black prisoners — who make up 62% of the prison's population.
—Christie Thompson, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
There’s Sing Sing, about inmates in a state penitentiary who form their own theater troupe, many of whom are played by graduates of the actual program.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for penitentiary 
Sean Neumann, People.com, 5 Jan. 2025
Kingstown follows the powerful family in a fictional Michigan town: Kingstown, Michigan, a city whose main industry is nine penitentiaries.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
The staff at Lee penitentiary is 98% White, according to the bureau, and multiple people said that guards seemed to be especially hostile to Black prisoners — who make up 62% of the prison's population.
—Christie Thompson, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
There’s Sing Sing, about inmates in a state penitentiary who form their own theater troupe, many of whom are played by graduates of the actual program.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for penitentiary
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Cite this Entry
“Penitentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penitentiary. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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