A guardian is someone who has been legally appointed to look after the affairs of another person,for example a child or someone who is mentally ill.
2. countable noun
The guardianof something is someone who defends and protects it.
The National Party is lifting its profile as socially conservative guardian of traditionalvalues. [+ of]
More Synonyms of guardian
guardian in British English
(ˈɡɑːdɪən)
noun
1.
one who looks after, protects, or defends
the guardian of public morals
2.
a. law
someone legally appointed to manage the affairs of a person incapable of acting for himself or herself, as a minor or person of unsound mind
b. social welfare
(in England) a local authority, or person accepted by it, named under the Mental Health Act 1983 as having the powers to require a person with mental illness to live at a specified place, attend for treatment, and be accessible to a doctor or social worker
3. (often capital)(in England) another word for custos
adjective
4.
protecting or safeguarding
Derived forms
guardianship (ˈguardianˌship)
noun
guardian in American English
(ˈgɑrdiən)
noun
1.
a person who guards, protects, or takes care of another person, property, etc.; custodian
2.
a person legally placed in charge of the affairs of a minor or of a person of unsound mind
adjective
3.
protecting
Derived forms
guardianship (ˈguardianˌship)
noun
Word origin
ME gardein < OFr gardien, altered (modeled on nouns ending in -ien < L -ianus) < gardenc < Frank *warding < Gmc *wardon (see guard) + -ing, akin to -ing
Examples of 'guardian' in a sentence
guardian
Please make sure you get your parent or guardian to submit the entry for you.
The Sun (2016)
They must be opened by a parent or guardian, but anyone can contribute to the savings pot.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Jupiter, your guardian angel planet, focuses on your home life and looking at a property as a family sparks real action.
The Sun (2016)
The winners must be accompanied by a parent or guardian on the match day.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Try to visualise your guardian angel standing before you.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Those who can apply include mothers and fathers whether they are biological parents or legal guardians.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We should become "guardians of the moment.
Christianity Today (2000)
Was not the selection of the male guardians determined by differences of this sort?
Kishlansky, Mark A. (editor) Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization, Volume 1: From the Beginningto 1715 (1995)
Did you know we have a public guardian?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Parents or guardians must stand their ground.
The Sun (2008)
My guardian angel must have been looking over me.
The Sun (2009)
She cannot launch the bid without his help because he is the legal guardian.
The Sun (2009)
In many ways they have become your guardian angels.
The Sun (2008)
Ministers will also allow juveniles to be questioned in the absence of their parents or guardian.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The public guardian was set up by the last government to look after the financial affairs of mentally incapable people.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Are police the guardians of the peace - or a threat to our life and liberty?
The Sun (2008)
Your guardian angel Jupiter is switched on in your values chart so you can make better cash choices.
The Sun (2008)
The five Guardians are recruited one by one as we putter from planet to planet in this origins comedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Please save this country from any more self-appointed guardians of our pleasures; enough is enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
One group of guardians live in an 80,000 sq ft building in Mayfair that had been empty for nearly three years.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
guardian
British English: guardian NOUN
A guardian is someone who has been legally appointed to look after the affairs of another person, for example a child.
The child's legal guardian was her grandmother.
American English: guardian
Brazilian Portuguese: tutor
Chinese: 监护人
European Spanish: tutor
French: tuteur
German: Vormund
Italian: tutore
Japanese: 後見人
Korean: 보호자
European Portuguese: tutor
Latin American Spanish: tutor
Chinese translation of 'guardian'
guardian
(ˈɡɑːdɪən)
n(c)
(Law)[of minor]监(監)护(護)人 (jiānhùrén) (名, míng)
(= defender) 保护(護)者 (bǎohùzhě) (名, míng)
(noun)
Definition
someone legally appointed to manage the affairs of another person, such as a child or other vulnerable person
He regards himself as a guardian of traditional values.
Synonyms
keeper
the keeper of the library at the V&A
champion
He received acclaim as a champion of the oppressed.
defender
He proclaims himself a defender of the environment.
guard
The prisoners overpowered their guards and locked them in a cell.
trustee
Astonishingly, the trustees don't know where the money is either.
warden
a safari park warden
curator
protector
She was seen by many as a protector of liberty.
warder
The inmates of the jail have taken a prison warder hostage.
custodian
the custodian of the holy shrine in Mecca
preserver
Additional synonyms
in the sense of champion
Definition
someone who defends a person or cause
He received acclaim as a champion of the oppressed.
Synonyms
defender,
guardian,
patron,
backer,
protector,
upholder,
vindicator
in the sense of custodian
Definition
the person in charge of a public building
the custodian of the holy shrine in Mecca
Synonyms
keeper,
guardian,
superintendent (US),
warden,
caretaker,
curator,
protector,
warder,
watchman,
overseer,
watchdog
in the sense of defender
He proclaims himself a defender of the environment.