re·for·ma·to·ry
ri-ˈfȯr-mə-ˌtȯr-ē 
plural reformatories
: a penal institution to which especially young or first offenders are committed for training and reformation
Synonyms
Examples of reformatory in a Sentence
Adjective
the belief that manual labor was a reformatory experience for convicted felons, who would learn the value of hard work
Recent Examples on the Web
Randee Dawn, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
While Spanish Catholicism and reformatory Protestantism favored black clothing, much of the Renaissance happened in an explosion of color.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2025
Ross’ novel approach tells Whitehead’s tale, based on true events, about two young Black men stuck in a wretched juvenile Florida reformatory school, the site of relentless and sometimes fatal abuse.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024
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Adjective
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.
—Randee Dawn, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
While Spanish Catholicism and reformatory Protestantism favored black clothing, much of the Renaissance happened in an explosion of color.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Noun
On the cusp of college, he’s instead sentenced to time at a notorious reformatory.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2025
Ross’ novel approach tells Whitehead’s tale, based on true events, about two young Black men stuck in a wretched juvenile Florida reformatory school, the site of relentless and sometimes fatal abuse.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reformatory
Dictionary Entries Near reformatory
Cite this Entry
“Reformatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reformatory. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reformatory
1 of 2 adjective
re·for·ma·to·ry
ri-ˈfȯr-mə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
reformatory
2 of 2 noun
plural reformatories
: an institution for reforming usually young or female criminals or those in jail for the first time
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