guardian angel

noun

plural guardian angels

1

: an angel believed to have special care of a particular individual

I'm still around, someone once told me, because I have at least one diligent guardian angel who watches over me.

—Warren Faidley

2

: a person that helps or protects another person or thing

To understand why [Alan] Greenspan seems to have changed from investors' guardian angel into a financial devil of sorts, you've got to understand what he's saying—and what he's not saying.

—Allan Sloane

Earlier this year, the city almost lost the illustrious Seeger's … after a downturn in business. But a guardian angel swooped in to stabilize Seeger's and to prevent Atlanta from having only one haute cuisine restaurant.

—John Mariani

Synonyms

• custodian
• defender
• guard
• guardian
• protection
• protector

Examples of guardian angel in a Sentence

He has become a guardian angel for struggling young artists.

his work with the pet rescue center has led many to hail him as a guardian angel and friend to all animals

Recent Examples on the Web

Like most people going through a breakup, my high school self wanted nothing more than a guardian angel to tell me exactly how to get over a certain someone. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 28 Nov. 2023

Jupiter in Pisces Lucky you—having Jupiter in the sign of Pisces is like having a guardian angel watching over you! —Narayana Montúfar, Women's Health, 13 Aug. 2023

The dog, named Ivy, came close to death but was spared by a guardian angel. —Doc Louallen, USA TODAY, 29 July 2023

Here’s hoping your guardian angels are smiling down on you today and every day. —Jamie Ballard, Woman's Day, 27 Mar. 2023

This gold-grill–wearing guardian angel proves to be too much for Gomez’s character, who hightails it back home after Alien bails them out of jail. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2023

The book is narrated by Alberegt’s guardian angel, and as the prosecutor races back to the city for a court trial, the forlorn lover speculates about Sysy in ways that have little to do with love, and which try the patience of even the most forgiving and tolerant angel. —Francine Prose, Harper’s Magazine , 22 June 2022

Thank you for being our guardian angel, for sending me signs, for being my DJ in heaven. —Dory Jackson, PEOPLE.com, 27 Aug. 2021

Music was Jones’ guardian angel. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2021

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Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1