Meaning · adjective
prison, penitentiary
- relating to prisons, detention, or the penal system
- (as a noun) penitentiary, prison
In a sentence
Il governo sta progettando una riforma profonda del sistema penitenziario.
The government is planning a thorough reform of the prison system.
Gli agenti di polizia penitenziaria garantiscono la sicurezza dell'istituto.
The corrections officers guarantee the security of the facility.
La struttura penitenziaria non disponeva di spazi adeguati per le visite.
The prison facility did not have adequate space for visits.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| penitenziario | masculine · singular |
| penitenziaria | feminine · singular |
| penitenziari | masculine · plural |
| penitenziarie | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Formal register; used in institutional and legal contexts ('sistema penitenziario').
- Can also function as a masculine noun meaning 'penitentiary' or 'prison'.