gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er ˈgāt-ˌkē-pər 

1

: one that tends or guards a gate

2

: a person who controls access

gatekeeping

ˈgāt-ˌkē-piŋ 

noun

Synonyms

• janitor
• porter [chiefly British]

Examples of gatekeeper in a Sentence

those who are hopelessly unhip have little chance of making past the club's gatekeeper and his velvet rope

Recent Examples on the Web

Beyond that, however, lie existential questions for ailing auction houses, mega-galleries and the other traditional gatekeepers of collecting. —Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025

Compliance, risk and IT departments—often acting from a place of legitimate caution—step in as gatekeepers. —Alex Brueckmann, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

This panel brings together influencer marketers, artists, and creators to explore the new gatekeepers of music discovery. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025

But a new Illinois law, which makes schools — not parents — the gatekeepers of children’s mental health screenings, crosses a line into new territory, and the details on what exactly happens next are shockingly light. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gatekeeper

• beekeeper
• bookkeeper
• doorkeeper
• gamekeeper
• goalkeeper
• housekeeper
• innkeeper
• minesweeper
• peacekeeper
• shopkeeper
• storekeeper
• timekeeper

Kids Definition

gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər 

1

: a person who tends or guards a gate

2

: a person who controls access

Medical Definition

gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər 

: a health-care professional (as a primary care physician) who regulates access especially to hospitals and specialists

managed care plans rely on a designated physician gatekeeper to orchestrate and control the health care of its enrollees

—E. A. Halm et al.