# reformatory

**Pronunciation:** /rɪˈfɔːrmətɔːri/ · re-FOR-ma-tor-ee

**Part of speech:** noun

## Meaning

A correctional institution designed to rehabilitate young offenders rather than punish them as adult criminals.

## Examples

- The state opened a new reformatory to provide vocational training for troubled youth.
- He spent two years in a reformatory before turning his life around.
- Critics argued that the reformatory was more of a prison than a place for positive change.

## Synonyms

- detention center — A general term for a place where people are held in custody.
- juvenile hall — Informal term for a facility specifically for minors.
- correctional facility — A broad, professional term for any prison or jail.
- training school — A euphemistic term often used historically for reformatories.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/reformatory

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