# dungeon

/ˈdəndʒən/ (US) · /dˈʌndʒən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dungeon
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. underground prison

noun · CEFR B2

a dark, cold prison cell located underground, usually beneath a castle.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. in gaming

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a place in a game, like a cave or castle, where you fight enemies and find treasure.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. BDSM context

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a room equipped for specific adult sexual activities.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to imprison

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

to lock someone in an underground prison.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The knight was locked in a cold, dark dungeon.
- The castle tour includes a visit to the damp dungeon where prisoners were kept centuries ago.
- Archaeologists discovered a hidden staircase leading to a subterranean dungeon that had remained sealed since the fortress was abandoned during the late fourteenth century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.