noun
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an institution for orphans and abandoned children
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the state of being an orphan
Etymology
Origin of orphanage
Explanation
An orphanage is a place where children without parents are cared for and housed. If a child has no parents — because the parents died or lost custody — the child is considered an orphan. Orphans are parentless. An orphanage is an institution that takes care of orphans. An orphanage will care for tiny babies and also older children without parents. Orphanages care for children until they can be placed in homes and adopted.
Vocabulary lists containing orphanage
The Shakespeare Stealer
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One for the Murphys
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Tasting the Sky
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But instead, she learned that their mother had entrusted them to an orphanage while the family dealt with financial difficulties.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
She was taken to an orphanage and later adopted by British parents, before eventually moving to the UK when she was 10-years-old.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
Back in George Allan's organ orphanage, there is hope something might be done.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
Studies of the zoo’s young elephants is shared with the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in the hopes of delivering care to elephant youth to prevent orphanage.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026
Hearing the word orphanage sent shivers down Jinjoo’s spine.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
