noun
poorhouse
noun
1
Historically, an institution that housed and supported people who could not support themselves.
"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").
Common pairings
end up in the poorhouse
Word Forms
poorhouses plural
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Etymology
From poor + house.