guardian angel

American

noun

an angel believed to protect a particular person, as from danger or error.
a person who looks after or is concerned with the welfare of another.

Etymology

Origin of guardian angel

First recorded in 1625–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Artificial intelligence was supposed to be the stock market’s guardian angel, but this past week, investors were grappling with the possibility that it has become Frankenstein’s monster.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

Lucian Msamati plays Cornelius, a sort of guardian angel for Paige, his sometime neighbor.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026

She is at once guardian angel and angel of death, watching over hallowed ground while carrying a tool of invasive modernity with her.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Ecclestone, a former second-hand car dealer, recognised a kindred spirit and was a kind of guardian angel at times as Jordan navigated the choppy waters of being a privateer team owner.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2025

Alcante had such a beautiful presence that he seemed like the guardian angel of the pavilion, but Farmer worried about what would happen when he returned to his home in the central plateau.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023