1. A person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
   "As a ward of the state, the orphaned child was placed in foster care"
    
2. A district into which a city or town is divided for the purpose of administration and elections
   "The candidate campaigned in every ward of the city"
    
3. Block forming a division of a hospital (or a suite of rooms) shared by patients who need a similar kind of care
   "they put her in a 4-bed ward";
   - hospital ward
    
4. A division of a prison (usually consisting of several cells)
   "The new inmates were assigned to ward B";
   - cellblock

1. Watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect
   "The guardian angel warded the child from harm";
   - guard

1. United States businessman who in 1872 established a successful mail-order business (1843-1913)
   - Montgomery Ward, Aaron Montgomery Ward
    
2. English writer of novels who was an active opponent of the women's suffrage movement (1851-1920)
   - Mary Augusta Ward, Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Mary Augusta Arnold Ward
    
3. English economist and conservationist (1914-1981)
   - Barbara Ward, Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth

Sounds like: war, ward

Derived forms: warding, warded, wards

Type of: actor, administrative district, administrative division, author, block, businessman, conservationist, doer, economic expert, economist, eco-warrior [informal], enviro [informal], environmentalist, man of affairs, protect, territorial division, worker, writer

Part of: hospital, infirmary, municipality, prison, prison house

Encyclopedia: Ward, Max