security guard

American  

noun

security guards plural

1. a uniformed guard employed by a bank, airport, office building, etc., to maintain security.

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security guard British  

noun

1. a person employed to protect buildings, people, etc, and to collect and deliver large sums of money

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• security guards
  plural

Etymology

Origin of security guard

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Indeed, the brand’s SoHo location in lower Manhattan was bustling last Friday as a security guard redirected shoppers away from the area in the back of the store where the fitting rooms were located.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

They were briefly repelled by a security guard, who along with two other victims in the parking lot, alerted people at the center and police to the attack, saving lives.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

A mosque security guard is being remembered for courageous actions that authorities say saved lives in the attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego that left three people dead.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

San Diego Police Department Chief Scott Wahl said the suspects ran past the security guard, identified as Amin Abdullah, at about 11:40 on Monday morning.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Clarence the security guard marched into the reading room and, folding his arms over his chest, took up a position near the three envelopes.

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• caretaker
• custodian
• patrolman
• policeman
• warden