1. a penal camp where political prisoners or prisoners of war are confined (usually under harsh conditions)(Freq. 7) • Syn: stockade • Hypernyms: camp • Hyponyms: death camp • Instance Hyponyms: Auschwitz, Belsen, Buchenwald, Dachau 2. a situation characterized by crowding and extremely harsh conditions • Hypernyms: misery, wretchedness, miserableness