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
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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
So when her friend Gareth St. Clair asks for help translating an Italian diary that could keep his family out of the poorhouse, Hyacinth agrees.
—Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 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
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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
So when her friend Gareth St. Clair asks for help translating an Italian diary that could keep his family out of the poorhouse, Hyacinth agrees.
—Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 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
See All Example Sentences for poorhouse
Cite this Entry
“Poorhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poorhouse. Accessed 6 Apr. 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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