guardian

noun

guard·ian | \ ˈgär-dē-ən

Definition of guardian

1 : one that guards : custodian

2 : a superior of a Franciscan monastery

3 : one who has the care of the person or property of another

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Examples of guardian in a Sentence

After the death of her parents, her uncle was appointed as her legal guardian. the state became his guardian when he was put into protective custody

Recent Examples on the Web

The guardians would be required to participate in a training program that would certify them to provide training to employees under their supervision. — Littice Bacon-blood, NOLA.com, "Monsanto donates land and $450,000 for a new 'linear park' in St. Charles Parish," 2 Mar. 2018 Clarence Franklin, the eldest, has special needs and is represented by a legal guardian. — Travis M. Andrews, The Seattle Times, "Aretha Franklin died without a will, leaving her estate’s future uncertain," 3 Sep. 2018 The right of one parent/guardian to make important decisions about the raising of your child, on issues such as health care, religious upbringing, education, etc. — Jennifer Lance, Glamour, "Your Divorce Glossary: A-to-Z Terms You Need to Know," 26 Nov. 2018 But even this ferocious guardian was unable to prevent the grandfather’s savage murder by his oldest son, enraged by the decision to make a younger son the crown prince of Assyria. — Richard Cork, WSJ, "A Conqueror With a Taste for Art," 24 Nov. 2018 Another tactic for safeguarding assets held in trusts is to add contingencies to the will, such as requiring an annual accounting from trustees to beneficiaries or their guardians. — Cheryl Winokur Munk, WSJ, "The Key to Protecting Your Assets—After Your Death," 21 Oct. 2018 This might be a different story for a young person who is newly diagnosed, who may need to work with their guardians and doctors to navigate their diet and get the hang of their insulin therapy. — Jennifer Lavallee, SELF, "5 Things I’m Sick of Hearing as Someone With Type 1 Diabetes," 29 Aug. 2018 Khloe, 36, chose Kim, 37, as True’s legal guardian, and Kourtney, 39, is less than impressed by her decision. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Khloé Kardashian Asked One of Her Sisters to be Baby True's Legal Guardian," 14 Sep. 2018 The aircraft are being slowly taken out of flying condition and made permanently unserviceable, suitable only for gate guardian duty or museums. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "“Retired” F-117 Stealth Fighters Seen Flying Over Nevada," 30 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'guardian.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

8 Jan 2019

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Time Traveler for guardian

The first known use of guardian was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for guardian

guardian

noun

English Language Learners Definition of guardian

: someone or something that watches or protects something

law : someone who takes care of another person or of another person's property

See the full definition for guardian in the English Language Learners Dictionary

guardian

noun

guard·ian | \ ˈgär-dē-ən

Kids Definition of guardian

1 : a person who guards or looks after something : custodian

2 : a person who legally has the care of another person or of another person's property

guardian

noun

guard·ian | \ ˈgär-dē-ən

Legal Definition of guardian

: one who has or is entitled or legally appointed to the care and management of the person or property of another — compare committee, conservator, curator, receiver, tutor

— guardian ad litem \ -ad-ˈlī-təm, -äd-ˈlē-tem \

: a guardian appointed by a court to represent in a particular lawsuit the interests of a minor, a person not yet born, or a person judged incompetent

— guardian by nature

: natural guardian in this entry

— natural guardian

: a guardian by natural relationship having custody of the person but not the property of a minor

Note: Under common law the father is considered the natural guardian of a child until his death or incapacitation, whereupon the mother becomes the natural guardian. Many states have passed statutes giving both parents equal rights as guardians.

— statutory guardian

: a guardian appointed by statutory authority

— testamentary guardian

: a person named in a will to serve as a guardian