reform school

noun

: a reformatory for boys or girls

Examples of reform school in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The children in those reform schools didn’t have that privilege. Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2024 In other words, moviegoers are primed to see faces onscreen, and this immersive movie often relies on the behind-the-eyes-and-neck points-of-views of its characters, two teenagers incarcerated at a harshly abusive reform school in Florida. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2024 The book is fiction, but is based on the true story of a Florida reform school that hid decades of abuse against its residents. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2024 Whitehead’s story is inspired by the Dozier School, a Florida reform school that was in business for 111 years and had a horrifying history in the Jim Crow south. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reform school 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reform school.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reform school was circa 1859

Dictionary Entries Near reform school

Cite this Entry

“Reform school.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reform%20school. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

reform school

noun
: a reformatory for boys or girls

Legal Definition

reform school

noun
: a reformatory for boys or girls

More from Merriam-Webster on reform school

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