sentinel

noun sen·ti·nel \ ˈsent-nəl , ˈsen-tə-nəl \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

: sentry

See sentinel defined for English-language learners

See sentinel defined for kids

Examples of sentinel in a Sentence

a lone sentinel kept watch over the fort

Recent Examples of sentinel from the Web

Aspiring artist Nick Hoel is raised on an Iowa farm where a single surviving chestnut stands sentinel over the prairie.

— dan cryer, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘The Overstory,’ by Richard Powers," 5 Apr. 2018
The showstopper: a sentinel that guarded Tut’s Ka, or life force.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "How good is the King Tut exhibition? An art critic weighs in," 29 Mar. 2018
Why would seeking help in an ER often become a sentinel event, with potential adverse consequences for older adults?

— judith graham, Washington Post, "For Elder Health, Trips To The ER Are Often A Tipping Point," 6 Mar. 2018
There are 20 sentinel providers enrolled in Southwest Ohio for the 2017-2018 surveillance season.

— jennie key, Cincinnati.com, "Hamilton County Public Health issues flu alert to schools and day care centers," 1 Feb. 2018
Sun-sentinel interviews Robert Runcie, Superintendent for Broward County Schools.

— megan o'matz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Nikolas Cruz's journey: Timeline of a troubled youth," 28 Feb. 2018
On the rocks underneath the overpass, a dirty white tent stood sentinel surrounded by tarp shelters, marking this site as home to more than one person.

— anita chabria, sacbee, "Sacramento homeless: Councilman Allen Warren says his plan to provide a tent city is personal | The Sacramento Bee," 30 Jan. 2017
Solt was Esiason’s sentinel-of-choice — and the 6-foot-3, 280-pound player kept improving.

— mike klingaman, baltimoresun.com, "Catching Up with ... former Maryland guard Ron Solt," 15 Dec. 2017
When honest mistakes are found, the reflex of many political journalists has been portraying themselves as sentinels of free speech and democracy.

— david harsanyi, National Review, "Political Journalists Have Themselves to Blame for Sinking Credibility," 15 Dec. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of sentinel

Middle French sentinelle, from Old Italian sentinella, from sentina vigilance, from sentire to perceive, from Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1579

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

sentinel Synonyms

Synonyms

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

bodyguard, convoy, defender, escort, honor guard;

gatekeeper;

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

sentinel

verb

sentineled or sentinelled; sentineling or sentinelling

transitive verb

1 : to watch over as a sentinel

2 : to furnish with a sentinel

3 : to post as sentinel

Recent Examples of sentinel from the Web

It has been guarded every hour of every day since 1937 by elite Tomb Guard sentinels.

— jesse ryan, USA TODAY, "VR: Witness a sacred ritual and America’s highest honor at Arlington National Cemetery," 29 May 2017
When Chinese leaders gaze out toward the Pacific, their panorama is obstructed by a string of military airfields, naval anchorages, radar emplacements and listening posts sentineled by U.S. forces and their allies.

— andrew browne, WSJ, "To China, America Finally Looks Vulnerable," 14 Mar. 2017

First Known Use of sentinel

1593

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

SENTINEL Defined for Kids

sentinel

noun sen·ti·nel \ ˈsen-tə-nəl \

: sentry

Medical Dictionary

sentinel

adjective sen·ti·nel \ ˈsent-ᵊn-əl \

: being an individual or part of a population potentially susceptible to an infection or infestation that is being monitored for the appearance or recurrence of the causative pathogen or parasite