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
• guard
• guardian
• keeper
• lookout
• minder
• picket
• sentinel
• sentry
• warder
• watch
• watcher
• watchman

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 Colorado Department of Corrections placed four leaders — including the wardens overseeing three state prisons — on administrative leave on the same day earlier this month, an agency official confirmed this week. —Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025

But the state has delayed those transfers until at least March 31, said Ray Sanchez, an assistant deputy warden. —Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025

The Charles Street Jail, a cruciform structure that gave the warden a central view of the cells and the ability to isolate prisoners from one another, also influenced a lot of prison design across the United States since it was built in 1851, according to the Boston Landmark Commission. —Abdallah Fayyad, Vox, 7 Mar. 2025

Falco will play the series regular role of Nina Hobbs, Anchor Bay’s new prison warden. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Feb. 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