pen·i·ten·tia·ry / ˌpenəˈtenshərē/ • n. (pl. -ries) 1. a prison for people convicted of serious crimes.2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a priest charged with certain aspects of the administration of the sacrament of penance. ∎  an office in the papal court forming a tribunal for deciding on questions relating to penance, dispensations, and absolution.

Penitentiary ★★½ 1979 (R)

A realistic story of a black fighter who survives his prison incarceration by winning bouts against the other prisoners. Well-made and executed, followed by two progressively worse sequels. 99m/C VHS, DVD . Leon Isaac Kennedy, Jamaa Fanaka, Badja (Medu) Djola, Chuck “Porky” Mitchell; D: Jamaa Fanaka; W: Jamaa Fanaka; C: Marty Ollstein.

PENITENTIARY

A prison or place of confinement where persons convicted of felonies serve their term of imprisonment.

cross-references

Jail.