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poorhouse

[ poor-hous ]
/ ˈpʊərˌhaʊs /
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noun, plural poor·hous·es [poor-hou-ziz]. /ˈpʊərˌhaʊ zɪz/.
(formerly) an institution in which paupers were maintained at public expense.
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Origin of poorhouse

First recorded in 1735–45; poor + house
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use poorhouse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for poorhouse

poorhouse
/ (ˈpʊəˌhaʊs, ˈpɔː-) /

noun
(formerly) a publicly maintained institution offering accommodation to the poor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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