lifeguard

American  

[lahyf-gahrd] / ˈlaɪfˌgɑrd /

noun

1. an expert swimmer employed, as at a beach or pool, to protect bathers from drowning or other accidents and dangers.

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verb (used without object)

1. to work as a lifeguard.

lifeguard British  

/ ˈlaɪfˌɡɑːd /

noun

1. Also called: life-saver.  a person present at a beach or pool to guard people against the risk of drowning

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Etymology

Origin of lifeguard

First recorded in 1640–50; life + guard

Explanation

A lifeguard is a person whose job involves watching over swimmers and rescuing them if they're in trouble. You have to do more than just twirl your whistle to be a lifeguard; you'd better be a very good swimmer as well. At the beach and the pool, lifeguards wear swimsuits and carry whistles for catching the attention of rule-breakers, like kids who are dunking each other or jumping into the shallow end. Lifeguards sit perched on high chairs, ready to swim to the aid of someone who's drowning or injured. In the seventeenth century, a lifeguard was a "solider's bodyguard," and by the late 1800s the meaning changed to "watcher of bathers."

Example Sentences

One bright spot this summer: Lifeguard positions advertised have jumped 78% from this time last year, according to Indeed.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

Lifeguard Marc Levy told AFP the mobile pool was "surprising", operating like any other with a heat pump, drainage and filtration system.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

The man was attacked when he was swimming with roughly a dozen other people, said Chief Lifeguard and Community Services Director Jonathan Edelbrock.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 2, 2024

The building is currently empty, apart from an area which is occupied by Thanet Lifeguard Club, which will remain as a tenant.

From BBC • Aug. 21, 2023

My eyes want to pop wide open over the fact that Hot Lifeguard is, I’m pretty sure, asking me out, but I don’t let them.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam