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

Adoption agencies paid hospitals and orphanages for newborns and other children, and in some cases switched children’s identities to keep adoptions moving when a child died, was too sick to travel, or was reclaimed by birth families. —ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026

Born in Iran in the 1970s, the woman doesn't know what happened to her birth parents or why she was placed in an orphanage. —Juliana Kim, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026

Nell Tiger Free stars as a young novice who works at a Catholic orphanage plagued by mysterious, disturbing circumstances. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026

Albom also talks about an orphanage in Haiti he has been involved with for years, and the latest involving it. —Carol Cain, CBS News, 20 Feb. 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