guardian

[ gahr-dee-uhn ]

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.

adjective

1. guarding; protecting:

   a guardian deity.

guardian

/ 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

adjective

1. protecting or safeguarding

Pronunciation Note

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

Derived Forms

• ˈguardianˌship, noun

Other Words From

• guardi·an·less adjective
• under·guardi·an noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of guardian¹

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

Example Sentences

"We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI's commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners."

From BBC

The man of the house was an oil mogul when the world was alive, a great defender of fossil fuels and an affectionate guardian to his family.

From New York Times

The big picture is that the seven board members of the nation’s second-largest school system will continue to define themselves as guardians of local families, which include many immigrants.

From Los Angeles Times

Last Friday, 19 parents and guardians, responsible for 11 children, faced magistrates in Great Yarmouth to explain why their child was persistently absent from school between December 2023 and July this year.

From BBC

Nineteen parents and guardians have appeared before magistrates in Norfolk charged with the unauthorised absence of their child from school.

From BBC