guardian

noun guard·ian \ ˈgär-dē-ən \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

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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guardianship

play \ˈgär-dē-ən-ˌship\ noun

See guardian defined for English-language learners

See guardian defined for kids

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 of guardian from the Web

Police allege that Justis’ legal guardian was his grandmother, but that he was sent to live with Bishop — described as a family friend — at the beginning of the year.

— chris harris, PEOPLE.com, "Minnesota Pair Accused in 6-Year-Old’s Beating Death Allegedly Duct-Taped Him to Wall In Past," 12 Apr. 2018
Böhm and his co-writer Florian Eder find some satirical potential in the way Anna's new guardian (played by Liv Tyler) shrugs off a lot of her strange behavior as the wacky antics of a typical, hormonal teen.

— noel murray, latimes.com, "'Wildling' offers a darker, artier take on a classic Hollywood premise: the misunderstood teen," 12 Apr. 2018
According to the indictment, Adidas' plan to pay De Sousa's guardian was complicated by the fact another party had already paid him to attend another school.

— jeff manning, OregonLive.com, "Adidas' Jim Gatto faces more charges in college basketball scandal," 10 Apr. 2018
The judge presiding over the divorce case removed him as guardian ad litem after learning that the mother was working in Henderson's campaign.

— mike cason, AL.com, "Former Jefferson County DA-elect seeks new trial on perjury," 7 Apr. 2018
In adoption cases, children live with the potential legal guardians for six months before adoption goes through.

— eric levenson, CNN, "A timeline leading up to the Hart family's fatal crash off a cliff," 5 Apr. 2018
The Tepoztecos view the mountains as guardian kin, with names for each hill, including Cerro del OVNI — UFO Hill.

— tyrone beason, The Seattle Times, "A reporter feels the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.’s promised land on a Mexican mountaintop," 31 Mar. 2018
This part of the book, as well as the earlier passages about the Captain's childhood village, bring to life a Southeast Alaska now entirely gone thanks to moral guardians and the arrival of television and the internet.

— Anchorage Daily News, "A fishing captain finds unexpected friendship in ‘Colors of the Morning Sky’," 31 Mar. 2018
Parents/legal guardians must provide proof of residency, a legal birth certificate and an immunization record to register their child.

— amanda harris, charlotteobserver, "Ready for kindergarten? Here's what to know in York, Chester, Lancaster Counties | Charlotte Observer," 26 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of guardian

Middle English gardein, wardein — more at warden

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

guardian Synonyms

Synonyms

custodian, guard, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watcher, watchman;

bodyguard, convoy, defender, escort, honor guard;

gatekeeper;

GUARDIAN Defined for English Language Learners

guardian

noun

Definition of guardian for English Language Learners

: someone or something that watches or protects something
law : someone who takes care of another person or of another person's property

GUARDIAN Defined for Kids

guardian

noun guard·ian \ ˈgär-dē-ən \

Definition of guardian for Students

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

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guardianship

\-ˌship\ noun

Law Dictionary

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

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