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 of warden

• 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

His dad’s old cop buddy (Peter Outerbridge) just happens to be David’s prison warden. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 June 2026

The photo pushes David—who has maintained his innocence all along—to escape from prison with the help of Philip Mackenzie (Peter Outerbridge), the prison warden and a longtime friend of his father who believes him, and Mackenzie’s son Adam (Jonathan Tucker), a police sargeant. — Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 18 June 2026

In its initial version, the system had just two levels of review — the warden in each prison and the agency overall. — Christie Thompson, NPR, 17 June 2026

Perhaps as a tribute, the warden played by André Gregory in the 1993 Sylvester Stallone-Wesley Snipes film Demolition Man is named William Smithers. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026

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