ward

The word “ward” means a section of a hospital where patients with similar needs are cared for. In plain terms, a protected section (of a hospital or city), a person under legal guardianship, or (as a verb) to fend something off.

“Ward” is pronounced wawd (/wɔɹd/ in IPA).

Here is “ward” used in a sentence: “She was moved to the maternity ward after the birth.”

Depending on how it is used, “ward” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “ward” comes from Old English. From Old English weard, meaning "guard" or "watchman," from a Germanic root related to heeding and defending — the same root that eventually gives us "guard" and "warden.".

“Ward” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Ward” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a section of a hospital where patients with similar needs are cared for.

A ward is a section of a hospital where patients with similar needs are cared for together, traditionally in a shared room. A unit often refers to a specialised department, such as an intensive care unit, though the two terms overlap and usage varies by country and hospital.

A ward is an administrative division of a city, town, or borough, often used for local elections. A district is usually a larger administrative area, so wards are frequently smaller subdivisions within a wider district or borough.