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Definition of orphanage

orphanage

/ˈɔːr.fən.ɪdʒ/
or · phan · age
Plural:orphanages
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orphanage Lexical Profile

orphanage Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A residential institution devoted to the care, housing, and education of children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable to care for them.

Example

"The charity donated books, warm clothing, and musical instruments to the local orphanage."

2

The state or condition of being an orphan.

Example

"The novel explores the protagonist's early years of orphanage before she was adopted by a merchant family."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for orphanage

• Nearby Words

orontium
oropendola
orphan
orphanage
orphanhood
ortanique
orthodontic

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 19th century from 'orphan' plus the suffix '-age'. The root 'orphan' comes via Late Latin orphanus from Ancient Greek orphanos ('bereaved' or 'fatherless').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Orphanage. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/orphanage
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