| Main Entry: |
|
| Part of Speech: |
noun |
| Definition: |
residence for incarcerating criminals |
| Synonyms: |
G, bastille,
can*, clink,
confinement, cooler, dungeon, guardhouse,
jail,
keep, lockup,
pen*, penal institution, penitentiary, reformatory, slammer, statesville, stockade, up the river
|
| Notes: |
a jail is a short-term detention facility for those awaiting trial or convicted of minor offenses; a prison or penitentiary is a long-term detention facility for those convicted of major offenses |
* = informal/non-formal usage
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
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