Meaning & use

ward

noun·Academic

Last updated

A separate room or division within a hospital, especially one where patients receiving similar types of care are housed.

See it in a sentence

After the surgery, she was moved to the recovery ward to be monitored overnight.

Visiting hours in the children's ward are more flexible than in the rest of the hospital.

A note on using this word

"Ward" also refers to a minor placed under the legal protection of a guardian ("a ward of the court") and to an electoral district within a city or town.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A person, especially a minor, placed under the care and protection of a guardian or the court.

After her parents' death, she became a ward of her aunt and uncle.

3. verb

To ward something off means to protect against or deflect it.

He raised his arm to ward off the blow.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “ward”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.