noun
workhouse
Workhouse (noun) means Historically, an institution where poor people were housed and required to work in exchange for food and shelter. Example: “Many orphans in Victorian England ended up in the workhouse.”
noun
1
Historically, an institution where poor people were housed and required to work in exchange for food and shelter.
"Many orphans in Victorian England ended up in the workhouse."
2
A prison where inmates are required to perform manual labor as part of their sentence.
"He was sentenced to six months in the workhouse."
How to use workhouse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA historical institution, associated especially with Victorian Britain, where the poor lived and worked; also a labor prison.
Common pairings
sent to the workhouse
Victorian workhouse
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Word forms
- Plural
- workhouses
- Third person singular
- workhouses
- Past tense
- workhoused
Fill the gap
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Many orphans in Victorian England ended up in the _____.
Etymology
From Old English "weorchūs," literally "work house" — a building for manufacturing or, later, for housing the poor who worked there.
Rhymes for workhouse
See all rhymes for workhouse →Frequently asked questions
What does “workhouse” mean?
The word “workhouse” means historically, an institution where poor people were housed and required to work in exchange for food and shelter. In plain terms, a historical institution, associated especially with Victorian Britain, where the poor lived and worked; also a labor prison.
How do you use “workhouse” in a sentence?
Here is “workhouse” used in a sentence: “Many orphans in Victorian England ended up in the workhouse.”
What part of speech is “workhouse”?
“Workhouse” is a noun.
Where does the word “workhouse” come from?
The word “workhouse” comes from Old English. From Old English "weorchūs," literally "work house" — a building for manufacturing or, later, for housing the poor who worked there.
How many meanings does “workhouse” have?
“Workhouse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, an institution where poor people were housed and required to work in exchange for food and shelter.
