workhouse
noun
work·house
ˈwərk-ˌhau̇s 
1
British
: poorhouse
2
: a house of correction for persons guilty of minor law violations
Examples of workhouse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As an alternative to probation, Newmark asked the judge to consider imposing a month in the workhouse.
—
Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 30 July 2025
Many women were eventually sent to Magdalene Laundries, Catholic-run workhouses where they were detained as unpaid workers.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 13 July 2025
Mary’s childhood has all of the workhouse tragedy of a Dickens novel, plus insufficient scenes of Susan Lynch as a stern, matronly figure from her youth.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
First, the night-watchman state stigmatized the poor: they were deprived of the vote and consigned to workhouses in order to discourage idleness and provide incentives to work and save.
—John Micklethwait, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2014
See All Example Sentences for workhouse
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Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 30 July 2025
Many women were eventually sent to Magdalene Laundries, Catholic-run workhouses where they were detained as unpaid workers.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 13 July 2025
Mary’s childhood has all of the workhouse tragedy of a Dickens novel, plus insufficient scenes of Susan Lynch as a stern, matronly figure from her youth.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
First, the night-watchman state stigmatized the poor: they were deprived of the vote and consigned to workhouses in order to discourage idleness and provide incentives to work and save.
—John Micklethwait, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2014
See All Example Sentences for workhouse
Cite this Entry
“Workhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workhouse. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
workhouse
noun
work·house
ˈwərk-ˌhau̇s
1
British
: poorhouse
2
: a place where persons who have committed minor wrongdoings are kept
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