A ward is a person—often a child or someone unable to care for themselves—placed under the legal protection or care of another adult or an institution like a court.
In everyday life, you might hear a teacher say, “She became the ward of her aunt after her parents passed away,” or see a hospital sign reading “maternity ward,” meaning a section that cares for mothers and newborns. People also talk about “warding off danger” when they simply mean preventing something bad from happening.
Meaning & Usage Examples
- Legal ward: “The court named the child a ward of the state until a suitable guardian was found.”
- Hospital ward: “He’s recovering in the cardiac ward on the third floor.”
- Verb form: “She used garlic to ward off mosquitoes.”
Common Contexts
You’ll most often meet “ward” in legal or medical settings—guardianship papers, court orders, hospital signs, and casual phrases like “ward off a cold.”
Is a ward always a child?
No. While many wards are minors, adults who cannot make decisions for themselves can also become wards.
What’s the difference between “ward” and “guardian”?
The ward is the person being protected; the guardian is the one doing the protecting.
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