Meanings
nounMagdalene asylum (plural Magdalene asylums)
plural Magdalene asylums
- historicalA religious prison for prostitutes and unmarried mothers, usually as a source of forced labour.
Synonyms: Magdalene hospital, Magdalen hospital, Magdalene laundry
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA religious prison for prostitutes and unmarried mothers, usually as a source of forced labour.
Origin
Named after Mary Magdalene, traditionally associated with prostitution and a patron saint of penitent sinners.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
Magdalene asylum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Magdalene%20asylum
MLA
“Magdalene asylum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Magdalene%20asylum. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Magdalene asylum,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Magdalene%20asylum.
Source: Magdalene asylum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.