gatekeeper
Americannoun
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a person in charge of a gate, usually to identify, count, supervise, etc., the traffic that flows through it.
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a person or thing that controls access, as to information, often acting as an arbiter of quality or legitimacy: An open internet allows innovators to bypass traditional gatekeepers and promote their work on its own merit.
Treating office gatekeepers with respect will improve your chances of scheduling a face-to-face meeting or job interview.
An open internet allows innovators to bypass traditional gatekeepers and promote their work on its own merit.
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a guardian; monitor.
the gatekeepers of Western culture.
noun
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a person who has charge of a gate and controls who may pass through it
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any of several Eurasian butterflies of the genus Pyronia, esp P. tithonus, having brown-bordered orange wings with a black-and-white eyespot on each forewing: family Satyridae
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a manager in a large organization who controls the flow of information, esp to parent and subsidiary companies
Etymology
Origin of gatekeeper
First recorded in 1565–75; in 1905–10 gatekeeper for defs. 2, 3; gate 1 + keeper
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.
He soon became his grandfather’s shadow, the gatekeeper who holds Raúl Castro’s telephone, passing or not passing messages and documents along.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
The judge said he acted as a "gatekeeper" to Abu Qatada, vetting those who wanted to access chats where the man was present.
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026
It follows a broader trend of airlines focusing on high-earning business travelers over casual leisure flyers, with credit cards increasingly serving as the gatekeeper to the best travel benefits.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026
As court composer and music gatekeeper, Salieri has power and position.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026
She nodded at Methuselah, the ancient gatekeeper mouse.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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.
