workhouse noun 3verb 1forms 3 noun3 •(UK, historical) An institution for homeless poor people funded by the local parish, where the able-bodied were required to work. •(US) A prison in which the sentence includes manual labour. •(no longer used) A place of manufacture; a factory. verb1 •(UK, historical) To place (a person) in the workhouse (institution for the poor). formsworkhoused · workhousing · workhouses
