keeper

noun

keep·​er ˈkē-pər 

1

: one that keeps: such as

a

: protector

b

: gamekeeper

c

: warden

d

: custodian

e

chiefly British : curator

2

: any of various devices for keeping something in position

3

a

: one suitable for or worth keeping: such as

(1)

: a fruit or vegetable that keeps well

(2)

: a fish large enough to be legally caught and kept

(3)

: one having genuine or lasting merit

their new album is a keeper

b

: a domestic animal considered with respect to how easy it is to care for

an easy keeper

4

: goalkeeper

5

: an offensive football play in which the quarterback runs with the ball

Synonyms of keeper

• custodian
• guardian
• guard
• warden

Examples of keeper in a Sentence

Hold on to that boyfriend of yours—he's a keeper!

how should I know where she is? I'm not her keeper

Recent Examples on the Web

Poulos had four gains of 11 to 17 yards on the ground, including his first two keepers during Ohio’s strong first three drives. — Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

So Wingard amicably parted ways with Godzilla’s keepers in order to reconnect with the types of films that first put him on the map. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Houston keeper Jane Campbell parried the low cross into the path of defender Leah Klenke. — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2026

Allison Rugila, associate Sound keeper with Save the Sound, said that the presence of dolphins in the Long Island Sound points to both an ecological success story and a potential warning about the impacts of climate change. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing keeper

• park-keeper

Rhymes for keeper

• beeper
• cheaper
• creeper
• deeper
• reaper
• sleeper
• steeper
• sweeper
• beekeeper
• bookkeeper
• doorkeeper
• gamekeeper

Kids Definition

keeper

noun

keep·​er ˈkē-pər 

: one that keeps

they are keepers of their word

especially : a person who watches, guards, or takes care of something or someone

the keeper of a shop

Legal Definition

keeper

noun

keep·​er

: one that takes care of and often is legally responsible for something

a dog's keeper

a keeper of the property