noun
guardian
GAH-dih-uhn
noun
1
Someone who protects or watches over a person or thing.
"The old oak tree was seen as the guardian of the village."
2
A person legally responsible for the care of a child or someone unable to care for themselves.
"After her parents died, her aunt became her legal guardian."
"The court appointed a guardian to manage his grandfather's affairs."
How to Use Guardian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who protects or is legally responsible for another person.
Common mistake
A guardian has legal responsibility for someone; a "custodian" more often refers to caring for property or a building.
Common pairings
legal guardian
guardian angel
appoint a guardian
Word Forms
guardians plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “guardian”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old oak tree was seen as the _____ of the village.
Etymology
From Old French guardein, related to "warden" — both ultimately from the Germanic root behind "guard."