Words Like PENITENTIARY

We have put together a list of words that are similar to PENITENTIARY.

1 Alternative Words Similar to penitentiary

1 Pen Noun      Synonym Words Like Pen

2 examples of penitentiary

1 a penitentiary letter
2 wrote a penitential letter apologizing for her hasty words

10 definitions of penitentiary

1 Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance.
2 Expressive of penitence.
3 Used for punishment, discipline, and reformation.
4 One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
5 One who does penance.
6 A small building in a monastery where penitents confessed.
7 That part of a church to which penitents were admitted.
8 An office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc. Its chief is a cardinal, called the Grand Penitentiary, appointed by the pope.
9 An officer in some dioceses since A. D. 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.
10 A house of correction, in which offenders are confined for punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they are generally compelled to labor; a prison; a jail. Colloquially often shortened to pen.
We get our data from many different dictionaries across the web:
Wordnik, Wiktionary, Century, American Heritage, Gcide