Guardian

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Guardian

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

GAR-dee-un  /ˈɡɑːdɪən/

Definition

A person who protects or defends something; a person legally appointed to care for the interests of a minor or person unable to manage their own affairs; (in law) someone with legal responsibility for a child or vulnerable adult.

Plain meaning

A guardian is someone who watches over and protects — either literally, like a security guard, or legally, like the adult responsible for a child who has no parents.

Register

Neutral to formal. Guardian is used in legal, official, and literary contexts. The formal legal sense — legal guardian, guardian ad litem — is the most precisely defined use. The figurative sense — guardian of tradition, guardian of the public interest — is common in journalism and political writing.