orphanage
UK: ˈɔːfənɪdʒ | US: ˈɔːrfənɪdʒ
n. an institution that cares for children who have lost their parents
n. the state or condition of being an orphan
The word "orphanage" combines "orphan," derived from the Greek orphanos (bereaved child), with the suffix "-age," from Old French -age (indicating a related place or condition). Originally, "-age" denoted a collective or functional space (e.g., "hermitage"), later specializing in institutional contexts. The term reflects the transition from describing a child's state ("orphan") to a physical/legal entity ("orphanage") in the 16th century.
The charity built a new orphanage to shelter homeless children.
After the war, many children were sent to live in orphanages.
She donated toys to the local orphanage every Christmas.
The novel describes his childhood spent in a grim orphanage.
Modern orphanages focus on family-style care rather than institutional housing.