guardian

American  

[gahr-dee-uhn] / ˈgɑr di ən /

noun

1. a person who guards, protects, or preserves.

   Synonyms:

   defender, protector

2. Law. a person who is entrusted by law with the care of the person, property, or both, of someone else, such as a minor or someone legally incapable of managing their affairs.

3. the superior of a Franciscan convent.

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adjective

1. guarding; protecting.

   a guardian deity.

guardian British  

/ ˈɡɑːdɪən /

noun

1. one who looks after, protects, or defends

   the guardian of public morals

2. 1. law someone legally appointed to manage the affairs of a person incapable of acting for himself, as a minor or person of unsound mind

   2. social welfare (in England) a local authority, or person accepted by it, named under the Mental Health Act 1983 as having the powers to require a mentally disordered person to live at a specified place, attend for treatment, and be accessible to a doctor or social worker

3. (often capital) (in England) another word for custos

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adjective

1. protecting or safeguarding

Pronunciation

Guardian is occasionally pronounced with two syllables and with stress on the final syllable: . This pronunciation is now most characteristic of older, less educated speakers.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underguardian
  noun
• guardianless
  adjective
• guardianship
  noun

Etymology

Origin of guardian

First recorded in 1375–1425; from late Middle English gardein, from Anglo-French. See warden

Explanation

A guardian is a keeper or protector who looks after the welfare of other people or their property. In legal language, guardian is typically used as an alternative to "parent." Guardians are often adults who can make legal decisions for children who are not their own. Sometimes they take care of them, too, just like a parent would. A guardian angel is a figure that some people believe (either seriously or jokingly) watches over them and protects them. The term is also used to describe people who believe they are "guarding" something important, like morality, culture, or fashion.

Example Sentences

The Guardian reported in mid-May on an investigation by the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism, which published the identities of 13 of those killed.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

The Guardian has reported that the former ambassador's associations with senior figures in China, Russia and Israel were among the concerns raised by the vetting agency.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

"It makes sense that Amazon’s first dip into 007 mythology should be with a game," games and culture journalist Keith Stuart of British paper The Guardian argued in a newsletter this month.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

Returning to New York, Rollins continued what the Guardian would later call “an astonishing creative breakout,” recording 10 albums in 1956 alone, most of them under his own name.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

“The helicopter is indeed correct. It is important that he understands what to look for once he is in the air,” Guardian says.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga