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noun Uncommon

warden

WAW-duhn
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Warden (noun) means the chief administrative officer in charge of a prison. Example: “The warden approved a new rehabilitation programme for inmates.”

noun
1
The chief administrative officer in charge of a prison.
"The warden approved a new rehabilitation programme for inmates."
2
An official responsible for enforcing certain rules or regulations.
"A traffic warden ticketed the car for overstaying its permit."

How to use warden

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone in charge of enforcing rules or overseeing a place, such as a prison or car park.

UK vs US

In the US, "warden" typically refers to a prison governor; in the UK it more often refers to enforcement officials like traffic wardens, though prison wardens also exist.

Common pairings
prison warden traffic warden game warden
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Word forms

Plural
wardens
Third person singular
wardens
Past tense
wardened
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Can you complete this real example?

The _____ approved a new rehabilitation programme for inmates.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman wardein, related to "guard" — a doublet of "guardian," both ultimately from the same Germanic root meaning to watch over.

Origin: Germanic

Synonyms

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governor superintendent overseer

Related words

super leader governor boss commissioner monitor inspector controller

Rhymes for warden

Arden garden harden Barden Rearden
See all rhymes for warden →

Frequently asked questions

What does “warden” mean?
The word “warden” means the chief administrative officer in charge of a prison. In plain terms, someone in charge of enforcing rules or overseeing a place, such as a prison or car park.
How do you pronounce “warden”?
“Warden” is pronounced WAW-duhn (/ˈwɔɹdən/ in IPA).
How do you use “warden” in a sentence?
Here is “warden” used in a sentence: “The warden approved a new rehabilitation programme for inmates.”
What part of speech is “warden”?
“Warden” is a noun.
Where does the word “warden” come from?
The word “warden” comes from Germanic. From Anglo-Norman wardein, related to "guard" — a doublet of "guardian," both ultimately from the same Germanic root meaning to watch over.
Is “warden” a common word?
“Warden” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “warden” have?
“Warden” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the chief administrative officer in charge of a prison.
What is the difference between a warden and a guard?
A warden, in the prison sense, is the chief administrative officer in charge of running the entire prison, while a guard is a staff member responsible for the direct supervision and security of inmates day to day. The warden holds an overall leadership and management role above individual guards.
What does a traffic warden do?
A traffic warden is an example of the broader sense of warden as an official responsible for enforcing certain rules or regulations, in this case monitoring parking and traffic violations rather than running a prison. This shows how "warden" applies to various enforcement roles beyond prisons.
Is warden used only for prisons?
No, warden also refers more broadly to an official responsible for enforcing certain rules or regulations, such as a traffic warden or a game warden overseeing wildlife regulations. The prison sense is only one specific application of this wider meaning.

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