poorhouse
Poorhouse (noun) means Historically, an institution that housed and supported people who could not support themselves. Example: “Many families dreaded ending up in the poorhouse.”
How to use poorhouse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA historic charity institution for housing the destitute; also used figuratively for extreme poverty ("headed for the poorhouse").
Word forms
- Plural
- poorhouses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Many families dreaded ending up in the _____.
Etymology
From poor + house.