nursing home

noun

: a public or private residential facility providing a high level of long-term personal or nursing care for persons (such as the aged or the chronically ill) who are unable to care for themselves properly

Examples of nursing home in a Sentence

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.
The cost of this care, which includes nursing homes and adult day services, can be exorbitant, with increases outpacing inflation, and can crop up at unexpected times. — David Chavern, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 These are people who aren’t ready for a nursing home, but the family cannot leave them home alone. — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026 Other major costs include nursing homes, medical equipment and supplies, and prescription and over-the-counter drugs. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 The fungus primarily affects patients in hospitals and nursing homes who are already seriously ill, and can spread through medical equipment such as breathing tubes or catheters. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nursing home

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nursing home was in 1880

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nursing home.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nursing%20home. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

nursing home

noun
: a privately operated establishment where personal or nursing care is provided for persons (as the aged) who are unable to care for themselves properly

Medical Definition

nursing home

noun
: a public or private residential facility providing a high level of long-term personal and nursing care for persons (such as the aged or the chronically ill) who are unable to care for themselves properly

More from Merriam-Webster on nursing home

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster