ward

A room or section of a hospital where a particular group of patients receives care.

• She works on a hospital ward.
• He was moved to the children’s ward yesterday.
• Visitors must wash their hands before entering the ward.

Common phrases: hospital ward, maternity ward, children’s ward

A part of a city or town, often used for local elections.

• She represents this ward on the council.
• The city is divided into twelve wards.
• Residents voted for a new ward councillor.

Similar words: district

Common phrases: city ward, electoral ward, ward boundaries

Someone, usually a child, whose care is legally given to another person or the state.

• He became her legal ward.
• The court appointed a guardian for its young ward.
• She was a ward of the state until she turned eighteen.

How to use it: a ward of someone/something (The child became a ward of the state.)

Common phrases: ward of court, ward of someone, legal ward

An area inside a castle, enclosed by a particular ring of walls.

• They entered the castle’s outer ward.
• A stone tower stood in the inner ward.
• The castle had two wards separated by a wall.

Similar words: bailey

Common phrases: inner ward, outer ward, castle ward

A separate section of a prison.

• Guards searched the prison ward.
• The new prisoners were placed in a separate ward.
• Each ward contained several rows of cells.

Similar words: section, division

Common phrases: prison ward, secure ward, separate ward

To prevent something harmful or unwanted from reaching or affecting you.

• This spray wards off insects.
• He wore a thick coat to ward off the cold.
• They hoped the charm would ward off evil.

How to use it: ward off something (She raised her arm to ward off the blow.)

Similar words: keep away, fend off, repel

Common phrases: ward off something, ward something off