noun
Uncommon
sentinel
SEHN-tih-nuhl
Sentinel (noun) means a person or animal that stands guard or keeps watch. Example: “A lone sentinel stood at the castle gate all night.”
noun
1
A person or animal that stands guard or keeps watch.
"A lone sentinel stood at the castle gate all night."
2
A sign that warns of a risk, such as an early symptom of a disease.
"sentinel animals can be used to explore endemic diseases."
"Doctors treat the symptom as a sentinel for a more serious condition."
How to use sentinel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone or something that stands watch or gives early warning.
Common mistake
Sentinel and sentry overlap heavily; sentinel sounds slightly more formal or symbolic (a lone sentinel of the old order), while sentry is the everyday word for a guard on duty.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- sentinels
- Third person singular
- sentinels
- Past tense
- sentineled, sentinelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A lone _____ stood at the castle gate all night.
Etymology
First recorded in the 1570s, from Middle French sentinelle, ultimately from Italian sentire, "to perceive or watch," from Latin sentiō, "to feel."
Class of 1570
sentinel joined the language around 1570.
See the full Class of 1570 →
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sentinel” mean?
The word “sentinel” means a person or animal that stands guard or keeps watch. In plain terms, someone or something that stands watch or gives early warning.
How do you pronounce “sentinel”?
“Sentinel” is pronounced SEHN-tih-nuhl (/ˈsɛn.tɪ.nəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sentinel” in a sentence?
Here is “sentinel” used in a sentence: “A lone sentinel stood at the castle gate all night.”
What part of speech is “sentinel”?
“Sentinel” is a noun.
Where does the word “sentinel” come from?
The word “sentinel” dates back to around 1570 and comes from Latin. First recorded in the 1570s, from Middle French sentinelle, ultimately from Italian sentire, "to perceive or watch," from Latin sentiō, "to feel.".
Is “sentinel” a common word?
“Sentinel” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sentinel” have?
“Sentinel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person or animal that stands guard or keeps watch.
