gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er ˈgāt-ˌkē-pər 

1

: one that tends or guards a gate

2

: a person who controls access

gatekeeping

ˈgāt-ˌkē-piŋ 

noun

Synonyms

• janitor
• porter [chiefly British]

Examples of gatekeeper in a Sentence

those who are hopelessly unhip have little chance of making past the club's gatekeeper and his velvet rope

Recent Examples on the Web

But a new Illinois law, which makes schools — not parents — the gatekeepers of children’s mental health screenings, crosses a line into new territory, and the details on what exactly happens next are shockingly light. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2025

Bates believes judges, after hearing from attorneys on both sides, should be responsible for these decisions, rather than DJS acting as the primary gatekeeper. —Keith Daniels, Baltimore Sun, 16 Aug. 2025

The chief information security officer (CISO), formerly the exclusive gatekeeper of enterprise systems and data, today stands alongside a new contender: the chief trust officer (CTrO). —Michelle Drolet, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

But Whitney’s own ruinous investments and personal demons set him on a collision course with his brother George, the gatekeeper to J.P. Morgan, who is the key to preventing the crash. —Leia Mendoza, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gatekeeper

• beekeeper
• bookkeeper
• doorkeeper
• gamekeeper
• goalkeeper
• housekeeper
• innkeeper
• minesweeper
• peacekeeper
• shopkeeper
• storekeeper
• timekeeper

Kids Definition

gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər 

1

: a person who tends or guards a gate

2

: a person who controls access

Medical Definition

gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər 

: a health-care professional (as a primary care physician) who regulates access especially to hospitals and specialists

managed care plans rely on a designated physician gatekeeper to orchestrate and control the health care of its enrollees

—E. A. Halm et al.