Cryptic crossword clue
America’s cooler 12

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word PENITENTIARY

I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
P
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The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
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What does PENITENTIARY mean?

PENITENTIARY noun
  1. A state or federal prison for convicted felons; (broadly) a prison.
  2. A priest in the Roman Catholic Church who administers the sacrament of penance.
  3. One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
  4. One who does penance.
  5. A small building in a monastery, or a part of a church, where penitents confessed.
  6. An office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc.; run by a cardinal called the Grand Penitentiary who is appointed by the pope.
  7. An officer in some dioceses since 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.
PENITENTIARY adjective
  1. Of or relating to penance; penitential.
  2. Of or relating to the punishment of criminals.

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