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

Polly had spent years moving between workhouses and infirmaries, sometimes returning to her father’s house. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026

Bulwer’s work records gossip from the workhouse, disgust about her living conditions and who there was to blame. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026

Instead, the officer brought the woman to Browning, whose progressive workhouse often accommodated criminal overflow. — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Every so often, an unexpected household staple gets discovered as a workhouse cleaning product. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for workhouse

• alehouse
• almshouse
• backhouse
• baghouse
• bakehouse
• bathhouse
• bauhaus
• blockhouse
• boathouse
• brewhouse
• bunkhouse
• clubhouse

Kids Definition

workhouse

noun

work·​house ˈwərk-ˌhau̇s 

1

British : poorhouse

2

: a place where persons who have committed minor wrongdoings are kept

Legal Definition

workhouse

noun

work·​house

: a correctional facility for persons guilty of minor criminal violations