workhouse
noun/ˈwɜrkhaʊs/
Frequency rank: #15,786 most common English word
Meaning
a public institution where the poor were required to live and work in exchange for food and lodging.
Example sentence
The orphaned children were sent to the local workhouse where they labored long hours in exchange for food and shelter.
Synonyms & related words
- poorhouse
- asylum
- institution
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