1. Plural of penitentiary; large prisons, typically state or federal facilities for long-term incarceration of serious offenders.
Usage: Commonly used in North American English; Often abbreviated as 'pen' in informal contexts
2. In the Roman Catholic Church, offices or officials responsible for hearing confessions and assigning penances.
Usage: Religious/ecclesiastical context; Less common in everyday usage

Examples

• The state operates several penitentiaries across the region.
• Many penitentiaries have implemented rehabilitation programs for inmates.
• He spent fifteen years in one of the country's most secure penitentiaries.
• The new penitentiaries were designed with modern security systems.
• Overcrowding remains a serious problem in many penitentiaries.
• The Vatican maintains penitentiaries for hearing confessions during Holy Week.