| Main Entry: | penitentiary |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | jail |
Synonyms: |
big house, campus, can*, college, cooler, correctional institution, inside*, joint*, lockup, pen*, penal institution, prison, reformatory, slammer, stockade |
| 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 |
| Main Entry: | reformatory |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | reform school |
Synonyms: |
boot camp, cooler, correctional facility, correctional institution, jail, penal institution, penitentiary, prison, training school |
| Main Entry: | big house |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | penal institution |
Synonyms: |
big cage, big house, big school, brig, calaboose, can, city hotel, cooler, coop, correctional institution, detention facility, house of correction, house of detention, icebox, jail, joint, penitentiary, prison, slammer, tank, the river |