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Synonyms

guardianship

American  
[gahr-dee-uhn-ship] / ˈgɑr di ənˌʃɪp /

noun

  1. the position and responsibilities of a guardian, especially toward a ward.

  2. care; responsibility; charge.

Etymology

Origin of guardianship

First recorded in 1545–55; guardian + -ship

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.

If your aunt’s attorney succeeds in his guardianship petition, it will make this process all the more challenging.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

“Congress and veterans deserve immediate answers before VA and DOJ take any further action. Legal guardianship should be the last resort for veterans,” Blumenthal said in a statement to Salon.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

Once a person is under guardianship, the guardian—not the veteran—may ultimately decide where they will live.

From Slate • Mar. 12, 2026

"The state has the responsibility for the guardianship and education of minors. And that's where we should think about setting certain limits," Delgado told AFP.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

At first, Susan B. Anthony focused her campaign on two issues: a married woman’s right to keep her own wages and a mother’s right to share equal guardianship of her children.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.