pénitencier

penitentiary, prison

noun peh-nee-tahn-SYEH Rare

Origin: From medieval Latin 'poenitentiarius'.

Usage Note

Pénitencier refers to a place of penal servitude — typically a large, often harsh prison or correctional facility. It has a slightly archaic or literary ring compared to the everyday prison or maison d'arrêt. It is also recalled through the song 'Le Pénitencier', the French cover of 'The House of the Rising Sun', which brought the word wide cultural familiarity.

Examples

"Le roman se passe dans un vieux pénitencier."

Natural Translation

The novel is set in an old penitentiary.

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