protector

noun

pro·​tec·​tor prə-ˈtek-tər 

1

a

: one that protects : guardian

b

: a device used to prevent injury : guard

2

a

: one having the care of a kingdom during the king's minority : regent

b

: the executive head of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 to 1659

called also Lord Protector of the Commonwealth

protectorship

prə-ˈtek-tər-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms of protector

• guardian
• defender
• custodian
• protection
• bodyguard

Examples of protector in a Sentence

She sees her older brother as her protector.

a protector of free speech

Recent Examples on the Web

Mixing puppetry, live theater and Indigenous percussion, the production turns familiar bogeymen into protectors while asking audiences to reconsider who — and what — poses the real danger. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Nevertheless, Spero presents Pangram as a protector of the magazines and journals that make up the literary ecosystem. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

By late Tuesday afternoon, the Acton campaign also released an ad featuring Stearns recalling that his older sister had been his protector in an abusive household. — Karen Tumulty, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026

Will Stewart be seduced into the path of corruption by using Sinestro’s emotionally tainted battery, or steel himself against ill influences and continue to blaze his own trail as Earth's sole protector for the time being? — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing protector

• surge protector

Rhymes for protector

• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector
• deflector
• detector
• director
• dissector
• effector
• ejector
• elector

Kids Definition

protector

noun

pro·​tec·​tor prə-ˈtek-tər 

1

: a person or thing that protects or is intended to protect

2

: a person who takes charge of a kingdom while the king or queen is too young to rule : regent