Penitentiary Meaning in English
word
释义
A penitentiary is a large, secure prison where people are kept as punishment for serious crimes. The word is formal and often found in legal or official contexts.
用法与细微差别
'Penitentiary' is formal and less common in casual speech; 'prison' or 'jail' are used more often in everyday English. It usually refers to state or federal prisons for serious crimes, not short-term detention centers. The term also carries historical and legal connotations.
例句
The judge sent him to the penitentiary for ten years.
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There is a large penitentiary outside the city.
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His brother works as a guard at the penitentiary.
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After years in the penitentiary, he was finally released on parole.
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Visitors must follow strict rules when entering the penitentiary.
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Rumor has it the old penitentiary is haunted.
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