poorhouse
noun
poor·house
ˈpu̇r-ˌhau̇s 
ˈpȯr-
: a place maintained at public expense to house needy or dependent persons
Examples of poorhouse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then again, with a market cap of about $405 billion, last week’s audience-deficiency shuffle isn’t about to send Netflix to the poorhouse.
—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Prior to the spread of Christianity, there were no public hospitals in the Roman world; no orphanages, poorhouses, or old persons’ homes; no government assistance to help those in need or private charities to minister to the poor, homeless, and hungry.
—
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
After they were rejected at the polls, Democrats funneled $20 billion to the same kind of con men and Democrat bundlers who are driving Massachusetts ratepayers to the poorhouse.
—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
21 Nov. 2025
The former Eloise complex, which once housed up to 10,000 patients at its peak, began in 1839 as a poorhouse in Hamtramck before moving to Westland and expanding into a psychiatric institution and a general hospital.
—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poorhouse
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Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Prior to the spread of Christianity, there were no public hospitals in the Roman world; no orphanages, poorhouses, or old persons’ homes; no government assistance to help those in need or private charities to minister to the poor, homeless, and hungry.
—
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
After they were rejected at the polls, Democrats funneled $20 billion to the same kind of con men and Democrat bundlers who are driving Massachusetts ratepayers to the poorhouse.
—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
21 Nov. 2025
The former Eloise complex, which once housed up to 10,000 patients at its peak, began in 1839 as a poorhouse in Hamtramck before moving to Westland and expanding into a psychiatric institution and a general hospital.
—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poorhouse
Cite this Entry
“Poorhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poorhouse. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poorhouse
noun
poor·house
ˈpu̇(ə-)r-ˌhau̇s
ˈpō(ə)r-
: a place maintained at public expense to house poor people
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