warden

noun

war·​den ˈwȯr-dᵊn 

1

: one having care or charge of something : guardian, keeper

2

a

: regent sense 2

b

: the governor of a town, district, or fortress

c

: a member of the governing body of a guild

3

a

: an official charged with special supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specified laws or regulations

game warden

air raid warden

b

: an official in charge of the operation of a prison

c

: any of various British officials having designated administrative functions

warden of the mint

4

a

: one of two ranking lay officers of an Episcopal parish

b

: any of various British college officials whose duties range from the administration of academic matters to the supervision of student discipline

Synonyms

• custodian
• guardian
• guard
• keeper
• warder

Examples of warden in a Sentence

the warden of the cemetery

in his role as warden of the school, a principal must provide a safe environment for the students

Recent Examples on the Web

The law only lets the warden impound dogs found running loose or found not wearing valid dog tags. —Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Inmates spend all day inside, emerging only for 30 minutes of calisthenics or Bible study, according to the warden. —Eric Cortellessa, Time, 10 June 2025

Although Alexander repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and doubled down on his innocence, the two wardens eventually cracked the case wide open by securing his cell phone records. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 24 Apr. 2025

All expressed their concerns, one way or another, to different officials within the facility, all the way up to the warden. —Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wardein, from Anglo-French wardein, gardein, from warder to guard

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing warden

• dog warden
• game warden
• traffic warden

Rhymes for warden

• cordon
• churchwarden

Kids Definition

warden

noun

war·​den ˈwȯrd-ᵊn 

1

: one who has charge or care of something : guardian, keeper

2

: the governor of a town, district, or fortress

3

: an official charged with special duties or with the enforcement of specified laws or regulations

game warden

4

: an official in charge of a prison

5

a

: a lay officer of an Episcopal parish

b

: any of various British college officials

Legal Definition

warden

noun

war·​den

1

: an official charged with special supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specified laws or regulations

a game warden

2

: an official in charge of the operation of a prison

Etymology

Anglo-French wardein, gardein guardian, from warder, garder to guard, protect