gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er ˈgāt-ˌkē-pər How to pronounce gatekeeper (audio)
1
: one that tends or guards a gate
2
: a person who controls access
gatekeeping noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rise of online communities allows young people to bypass traditional gatekeepers and connect with like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025 The platforms also empowered performers and other content producers to bypass the traditional Nollywood gatekeepers. IEEE Spectrum, 6 Aug. 2025 Rather than acting as gatekeepers, security team members should act as enabling partners who provide guardrails and platforms that enable their counterparts in development to move quickly, without compromising safety. Harvendra Singh, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025 In Western Europe, broadcast authorities were often staffed with pro-NATO gatekeepers or governed by internal policies that ensured public radio and television stayed within the safe bounds of Western orthodoxy. Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 27 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for gatekeeper

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gatekeeper was in 1572

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gatekeeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gatekeeper. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

gatekeeper

noun
gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər How to pronounce gatekeeper (audio)
1
: a person who tends or guards a gate
2
: a person who controls access

Medical Definition

gatekeeper

noun
gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər How to pronounce gatekeeper (audio)
: 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 enrolleesE. A. Halm et al.

More from Merriam-Webster on gatekeeper

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