dungeon

[ duhn-juhn ]

noun

1. a strong, dark prison or cell, usually underground, as in a medieval castle.
2. the keep or stronghold of a castle; donjon.

dungeon

/ ˈdʌndʒən /

noun

1. a close prison cell, often underground
2. a variant of donjon

Word History and Origins

Origin of dungeon¹

1250–1300; Middle English dungeo ( u ) n, dongeoun, dungun < Middle French donjon < Vulgar Latin *domniōn- (stem of *domniō ) keep, mastery, syncopated variant of *dominiōn- dominion

Word History and Origins

Origin of dungeon¹

C14: from Old French donjon; related to Latin dominus master

Example Sentences

When I assumed it could get no worse, Sam told me about the “dungeon” located at the back of the administration building.

From Slate

The stories I heard from prisoners locked in the containment cages convinced me I needed to see the atrocity known as the dungeon for myself.

From Slate

The guard buzzed us through a solid steel gate to give us entry to the main hallway, with the dungeon located at the end.

From Slate

The closer we got to the dungeon, the more the administration building deteriorated.

From Slate

At least two other Texas prisons, the Gib Lewis Unit and the John B. Connally Unit, have their own version of the dungeon.

From Slate

Related Words

• torture chamber