reformatory

adjective

1. serving or designed to reform: reformatory punishments.

   reformatory lectures;

   reformatory punishments.

noun

, plural re·form·a·to·ries.

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

reformatory

/ -trɪ; rɪˈfɔːmətərɪ /

noun

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

adjective

1. having the purpose or function of reforming

Other Words From

• pre·re·form·a·to·ry adjective
• pseu·do·re·form·a·to·ry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reformatory¹

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

Example Sentences

Those crimes included forcing the Krenak off their land in southeastern Minas Gerais state, where a so-called reformatory site was built.

From Seattle Times

Her rebellious nature was mainly driven by resentment at the abuse she suffered as a child and her experience in a Dublin reformatory.

From BBC

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

From Salon

For people like them, the reformatory offered one of the few pathways to a degree inside.

From Seattle Times

This reformatory housed youngsters who had been convicted of theft, truancy or ill-disciplined – the types of children whose parents didn't want to know, outcasts.

From Salon