What Is a Penitentiary and How Is It Different From a Prison? The term penitentiary is often used to describe a place of confinement for people who have been convicted of a crime While the word is frequently used as a general synonym for prison, its specific definition can vary depending on the legal system or the state where the facility is located
PENITENTIARY Definition Meaning - Merriam-Webster The meaning of PENITENTIARY is an officer in some Roman Catholic dioceses vested with power from the bishop to deal with cases of a nature normally handled only by the bishop
What Is the Difference Between a Penitentiary and a Prison? The terms penitentiary and prison are often used to describe places where people are held under legal authority While they are frequently used to mean the same thing, their differences are found in their history and how they are used in the modern justice system
Penitentiary - definition of penitentiary by The Free Dictionary 1 Of or for the purpose of penance; penitential 2 Relating to or used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers 3 Resulting in or punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary: a penitentiary offense
penitentiary - Wiktionary, the free dictionary From Middle English penitentiary, from Medieval Latin pēnitentiārius (“place of penitence”), from Latin paenitentia (“penitence”), term used by the Quakers in Pennsylvania during the 1790s, describing a place for penitents to dwell upon their sins
PENITENTIARY Definition Meaning | Dictionary. com What does penitentiary mean? A penitentiary is a prison, especially a state or federal prison in the United States or Canada Penitentiaries typically house criminals who have committed major crimes The word is often used in formal contexts
Prison vs. Penitentiary — What’s the Difference? Prison is a general term for any facility where people are legally held as punishment for a crime; penitentiary specifically refers to a state or federal prison for serious offenses