orphanage

noun

or·​phan·​age ˈȯr-fə-nij 

ˈȯrf-nij

1

: the state of being an orphan

2

: an institution for the care of orphans

Examples of orphanage in a Sentence

After the death of his parents, he was raised in an orphanage.

Recent Examples on the Web

At 7 months old, the twins — who were dropped off at the same orphanage in China several days apart and had different birth dates on their paperwork — were both adopted within the same group of visiting families. — Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026

The Horans’ youngest child, John, died at the orphanage at age 8, while the older children later spread out across the country. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2026

Shtilerman feared that his ex-wife would be arrested and their kids placed in an orphanage if the Russian authorities discovered their ties to one of Ukraine’s top arms manufacturers. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

But by the 1920s, orphanages began to fall out of favor among educators and psychologists. — Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 16 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

orphan entry 1 + -age, after Middle French orphelinage

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

orphanage

noun

or·​phan·​age ˈȯrf-(ə-)nij 

: an institution for the care of orphans