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

• guardianless adjective
• guardianship noun
• underguardian 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

Major, a professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, added: "The reality is that a teacher these days is a counsellor, a social worker, a poverty alleviator and a guardian of respectful values."

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

The pieces are like guardian symbols, designed to protect their wearer.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

There is currently no age requirement to join Step, according to its website, though users under 18 need a “parent, guardian or trusted adult” to sponsor their account.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

He is also designated as the most senior guardian of the Shiite faith.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

The sculptor from the Stadel Cave may sincerely have believed in the existence of the lion-man guardian spirit.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari