1. an institution for the care and training of destitute or delinquent children
Usage: historical

Examples

• The city established a protectory for orphaned children in 1885.
• Many young offenders were sent to the protectory instead of prison.
• The protectory provided education and vocational training to its residents.
• Catholic nuns ran the local protectory for homeless youth.
• The old protectory building was converted into apartments in the 1970s.