ward

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal

n. an area of a city or town that has its own local leaders and elections.

n. an administrative division of a city or borough that serves as a constituency for local elections.

“She is running for a seat on the city council to represent our ward.”

“The boundary commission proposed redrawing the city's wards to ensure more equitable representation across the growing suburban districts.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal

n. a person, usually a child, who is legally under the care of a guardian or a court.

n. a person, especially a minor or someone legally incompetent, placed under the protection of a guardian or a court of law.

“After his parents died, the boy became a ward of the state until his aunt was found.”

“The court appointed a legal professional to manage the finances of the ward, ensuring the inheritance was protected until the child reached adulthood.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to push away or prevent something bad from happening; usually used with 'off'.

v. to avert, repel, or turn aside something dangerous or unpleasant; almost exclusively used as the phrasal verb 'ward off'.

“She drank plenty of orange juice to ward off the cold she felt coming on.”

“The central bank raised interest rates in a desperate attempt to ward off the looming threat of hyperinflation.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Archaic · Literary

n. the act of guarding or protecting someone.

n. the action of guarding or the state of being under guard; also refers to a person who performs such duties.

“The knight kept watch and ward over the castle gates all through the night.”

“The ancient laws of the realm required the lord to provide watch and ward for all travelers passing through his lands.”