penitentiary plural
pen·i·ten·tia·ry
The plural form of penitentiary is penitentiaries
P pDefinitions
- noun plural penitentiary a place for imprisonment, reformatory discipline, or punishment, especially a prison maintained in the U.S. by a state or the federal government for serious offenders. 1
- noun plural penitentiary Roman Catholic Church. a tribunal in the Curia Romana, presided over by a cardinal (grand penitentiary) having jurisdiction over certain matters, as penance, confession, dispensation, absolution, and impediments, and dealing with questions of conscience reserved for the Holy See. 1