Word
dungeon
Phoneticsdun·geon, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdəndʒən/
UK/dˈʌndʒən/
Definitions
01underground prison
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a dark, cold prison cell located underground, usually beneath a castle.
n. a subterranean cell or vault used for imprisonment, typically situated beneath a medieval castle or fortress.
“The knight was locked in a damp dungeon for three years before he escaped.”
“Historical records suggest that the castle dungeon was rarely used for long-term prisoners, serving instead as a temporary holding cell during sieges.”
02in gaming
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing Informal
n. a place in a game, like a cave or castle, where you fight enemies and find treasure.
n. a self-contained game environment, often subterranean, featuring combat encounters, puzzles, and rewards.
“Our team spent three hours exploring the dragon's dungeon to find the magic sword.”
“The game designer balanced the dungeon by placing health potions before the final boss encounter to assist struggling players.”
03BDSM context
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. a room equipped for specific adult sexual activities.
n. a room or facility specifically equipped for sadomasochistic sexual practices.
“The club features a private dungeon for its members.”
“The facility was professionally designed as a high-end dungeon, featuring custom-built equipment for various roleplay scenarios.”
04to imprison
C2 · Proficiency Literary · Archaic
v. to lock someone in an underground prison.
v. to confine or incarcerate an individual within a dungeon. Transitive use.
“The cruel king decided to dungeon his enemies forever.”
“The tyrant sought to dungeon any citizen who dared to speak against the new tax laws.”
Etymology
From Middle English dongeoun (“keep of a castle; dungeon; abyss, cave, den; whirlpool”), from Anglo-Norman donjun (“keep of a castle; keep used as a prison; dungeon”) and continental Old French donjon (“keep of a castle”), from Vulgar Latin *dominiōnem, seemingly derived from Latin dominus (“master, lord”) perhaps via some figurative sense like “dominant building”. Doublet of donjon. The sense of “prison (associated with a castle)”, first attested in Anglo-Norman (13th c.) and apparently never in continental Old French, likely developed in combination with Old English dung (“underground prison cell”), whence Middle English donge (“pit, abyss”, senses that are also attested for Middle English dongeoun). The game term has been popularized by Dungeons & Dragons.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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