orphanage

noun

or·​phan·​age ˈȯr-fə-nij How to pronounce orphanage (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hyeon-suk has brought Mun-oh along for the ride to the country orphanage, hoping that the sunlight and fresh air would shake him out of his writer’s block. — Kayti Burt, Time, 26 June 2026 When Korkejian’s mother was 7, her own mother placed her in an orphanage on the Lebanese coast to protect her from her father. — Andrea Domanick, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 Roberts has an American Dream story - from his beginnings in an orphanage in South Korea. — Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Set in reform schools, psychiatric wards, or overcrowded orphanages, the narratives explore the systemic erasure of identity. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for orphanage

Word History

Etymology

orphan entry 1 + -age, after Middle French orphelinage

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of orphanage was in 1579

Browse Nearby Words

orphan's court
orphanage
orphancy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Orphanage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orphanage. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

orphanage

noun
or·​phan·​age ˈȯrf-(ə-)nij How to pronounce orphanage (audio)
: an institution for the care of orphans

More from Merriam-Webster on orphanage

Nglish: Translation of orphanage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about orphanage

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