boarding out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/Very LowFormal, Official, Social Work/Jargon, Historical
Quick answer
What does “boarding out” mean?
The process of placing a child, elderly person, or dependent in the care of a family or institution away from their own home, often due to social welfare needs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process of placing a child, elderly person, or dependent in the care of a family or institution away from their own home, often due to social welfare needs.
The act of officially arranging for someone to be cared for in a private household or institution, usually under a formal agreement and often paid for by a local authority. Historically, it can also refer to the practice of living with a family while attending school away from home.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the term is established, though now somewhat dated, in social services and historical discourse. In American English, the term is largely unknown; equivalent concepts are 'foster care placement', 'outplacement', or 'residential care'.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries connotations of older welfare systems (e.g., post-WWII), rural placements for city children, or care for the elderly. It can have a neutral official tone but sometimes a slightly impersonal or institutional feel.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary general use in the UK, limited to specific professional or historical contexts. Essentially non-existent in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “boarding out” in a Sentence
The council boarded the child out (with a family).Boarding out (of the elderly) was common.They arranged for his boarding out.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “boarding out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The parish decided to board out the orphan with a local farmer's family.
- During the war, many children were boarded out in the countryside for safety.
American English
- [Not used. Would use 'place in foster care' or 'arrange foster care for'.]
adverb
British English
- [The phrase does not function as an adverb.]
American English
- [The phrase does not function as an adverb.]
adjective
British English
- The boarding-out allowance was reviewed annually.
- They managed a boarding-out scheme for the elderly.
American English
- [Not used.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or social policy texts discussing past welfare practices.
Everyday
Very rarely used. An older generation might recall 'boarding out' evacuee children during the war.
Technical
Used in social work archives, historical legislation, and discussions of care systems pre-1980s.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “boarding out”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “boarding out”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “boarding out”
- Using it to mean 'evicting someone from a boarding house'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'moving out'.
- Confusing it with the active verb 'board' as in 'to board a plane'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a historical and formal precursor to modern fostering. 'Boarding out' often referred to the specific act of placement by an authority, sometimes with payment, whereas 'fostering' has broader legal and familial connotations.
No, that would be 'boarding' a pet at a kennel. 'Boarding out' specifically refers to people and involves a formal care arrangement, usually by an official body.
No, it is not part of standard American vocabulary. Americans would use terms like 'foster care placement' or 'out-of-home placement'.
Not primarily. While 'boarding school' is common, 'boarding out' is unrelated to education. It is a social care term. However, historically, a child sent to live with a family to attend a local school could be described as 'boarded out'.
The process of placing a child, elderly person, or dependent in the care of a family or institution away from their own home, often due to social welfare needs.
Boarding out is usually formal, official, social work/jargon, historical in register.
Boarding out: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɔːdɪŋ ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this phrase]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BOARD with names being moved OUT of one column (their original home) and into another (a new household).
Conceptual Metaphor
CARE IS A COMMODITY TO BE CONTRACTED OUT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'boarding out' most likely to be found today?