reformatory

American  

adjective

1. serving or designed to reform: reformatory punishments.

   reformatory lectures;

   reformatory punishments.

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noun

plural

reformatories

1. Also called reform school.  (no longer in official use) a penal institution for reforming young offenders, especially minors.

reformatory British  

/ -trɪ, rɪˈfɔːmətərɪ /

noun

1. Also called: reform school.  (formerly) a place of instruction where young offenders were sent for corrective training Compare approved school

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adjective

1. having the purpose or function of reforming

Other Word Forms

• prereformatory adjective
• pseudoreformatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of reformatory

First recorded in 1580–90 reformatory for def. 1; in 1750–60 reformatory for def. 2; reform ( def. ) + -atory ( def. ).

Example Sentences

Mariona's memory of telling this story to the youngsters in her family is blurred, she believes as a result of the psychiatric "treatment" she was forced to undergo at the reformatory.

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2025

In the film about two teens in a reformatory school, the camera becomes the point-of-view of a couple of characters, while other characters look directly into the lens.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2024

He ended up getting sent to a borstal, a reformatory for young offenders.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2023

One student received clemency and was released a few months after the reformatory closed.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 6, 2022

A judge was going to determine whether the boy had to go to a reformatory home or could stay put, with relatives who didn’t particularly want him.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman