Definition

A person who studies or specializes in the field of penology, which is the study of prisons and the treatment of offenders.

Example

The penologist presented her research on rehabilitation methods at the conference.

Conversation

Have you ever met a penologist before?

No, I haven’t, but it sounds interesting!

They study the rehabilitation of prisoners, right?

Exactly! It’s a pretty important field for improving our justice system.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Penologist → It is formed from "poena" (meaning punishment) and "-logist" (meaning one who studies). A penologist is someone who studies punishment, particularly in the context of the criminal justice system.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who studies 'punishment' ('poena') — that's what a penologist does.

Visually Confused Words