wardship

noun

ward·​ship ˈwȯrd-ˌship 

1

a

: care and protection of a ward

b

: the right to the custody of an infant heir of a feudal tenant and of the heir's property

2

: the state of being under a guardian

Examples of wardship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But each state court system, from New York to California, runs wardship and adoption proceedings differently — and sometimes there are even variations between counties. —Garance Burke and Martha Mendoza, The Seattle Times, 9 Oct. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a