Okuzeka
History vocabulary · Social History

Workhouse

Meaning in history, with examples

nounCommon term

In history, workhouse means: An institution where poor people received basic support under conditions that commonly included compulsory work.

In Turkish: yoksullar çalışma evi

How it is used

Particularly associated with British poor relief; distinguish admission from ordinary paid employment.

Example sentences

  1. The workhouse register records families admitted during the winter shortage.

    The institution provides relief through a regulated residential setting.

  2. Former residents described the workhouse as both shelter and confinement.

    Assistance and restrictive conditions could be experienced together.

Common collocations

  • workhouse register
  • enter the workhouse
  • social classA group of people in a society who share a similar economic position, such as wealth, occupation or education, and often similar status and opportunities.
  • primary sourceEvidence created at the time being studied or by people who witnessed it, such as letters, diaries, official records, photographs or objects.

More terms: Social History

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: