wardship

noun

ward·ship | \ ˈwȯrd-ˌship

\

Definition of wardship

1a : care and protection of a ward

b : the right to the custody of an infant heir of a feudal tenant and of the heir's property

2 : the state of being under a guardian

Examples of wardship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But each state court system, from New York to California, runs wardship and adoption proceedings differently — and sometimes there are even variations between counties. — Garance Burke And Martha Mendoza, The Seattle Times, "Deported parents may lose their kids to adoption," 9 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wardship.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Time Traveler for wardship

The first known use of wardship was in the 15th century

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