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 of gatekeeper

• janitor
• porter

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

Blogs, tweets, and podcasts bypass traditional gatekeepers, bringing a wider array of voices into literary spaces that once seemed impenetrable. —Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026

As court composer and music gatekeeper, Salieri has power and position. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026

The leadership of film and cultural institutions has been handed to political appointees with no professional qualifications, whose primary function is to act as gatekeepers and censors. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026

Unlike with drugs, there is no single gatekeeper for AI; hospitals are often left to validate tools on their own. —Hilke Schellmann, Scientific American, 17 Feb. 2026

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.