penitenciario

penitentiary

adjective peh-nee-ten-SYAH-ryoh Rare

Also means

prison

Usage Note

Penitenciario is the formal adjective for anything relating to the prison system (sistema penitenciario = prison system, centro penitenciario = penitentiary). It derives from penitencia (penance). As a noun, un penitenciario is an ecclesiastical official with authority over confessions, though this use is rare outside religious contexts.

Examples

"Las condiciones del sistema penitenciario son duras."

Natural Translation

The conditions of the prison system are harsh.

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