guardian

American  

[gahr-dee-uhn] / ˈgɑr di ən /

noun

• guardians
  plural

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 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

---

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

• guardianship
  noun
• underguardian
  noun
• guardianless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• guardians
  plural

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

See Examples For:

guardian guardians

When a teen’s Uber trip begins, the parent or guardian linked to the account will receive a push notification if livestreaming is available.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

But a few years later — even 18 years later — two-thirds of parents are still missing a vital protection for their children: Naming a guardian in case of emergency.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

Only the teen’s parent or guardian will have access to the video, Uber said, and it will not be available to view after the trip ends.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Her decades-spanning relationship with the Opry helped cement its status as both a guardian of country music tradition and a stage for modern stars.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

He knew better than to ask what had happened to Tom, his guardian of the last three years.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

Parents and guardians can now access live video of their teens as they take an Uber.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Salterelli has seen cases where competing grandmothers both want to be guardians and a custody battle ensues.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

It means parents and guardians will not have to buy more than three branded items, plus a tie for children in secondary school.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

They are also essential guardians of the environment.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026

They looked to me like guardians to the underworld.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan