Workhouse (Noun)
Meaning 1
A poorhouse where able-bodied poor are compelled to labor.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The conditions in the workhouse were harsh and unforgiving, with inmates expected to perform long hours of manual labor in exchange for meager rations.
- After losing his job, John found himself at the gates of the local workhouse, forced to choose between a life of labor and begging on the streets.
- The workhouse was a dreaded institution, a place where the poor were sent to toil and often never seen again, their lives reduced to endless labor and drudgery.
- Mary's family was torn apart when her father was sent to the workhouse, leaving her and her mother to fend for themselves in a city that seemed determined to ignore their plight.
- The reformers argued that the workhouses did little to address the root causes of poverty, instead simply warehousing the poor and forcing them to labor in inhumane conditions.
Meaning 2
A county jail that holds prisoners for periods up to 18 months.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The county workhouse was a place where inmates could earn their GEDs and learn vocational skills while serving their time.
- After being sentenced to 12 months, John was sent to the local workhouse to serve out his term.
- The workhouse was designed to rehabilitate prisoners through hard labor and counseling programs.
- Many inmates at the workhouse were awaiting trial or serving short sentences for non-violent crimes.
- The workhouse offered a range of programs, including substance abuse treatment and job training, to help inmates prepare for life after release.