A1 noun Neutral #2,629 most common

guardian

/ˈɡɑːrdiən/

A person who protects or looks after someone or something. It is often used for a person who is legally responsible for a child who is not their own.

Examples

3 of 5
1

My aunt is my legal guardian.

My aunt is my legal guardian.

2

The court will appoint a guardian for the child.

The court will appoint a guardian for the child.

3

He has been like a guardian angel to me this week.

He has been like a guardian angel to me this week.

Word Family

Noun
guardian
Verb
guard
Adverb
guardedly
Adjective
guarded
Related
guardianship
💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'guard'. A 'guardian' is a person (-ian) who 'guards' a child or someone's safety.

Quick Quiz

When the child's parents died, his uncle became his legal ___.

Correct!

The correct answer is: guardian

Examples

1

My aunt is my legal guardian.

everyday

My aunt is my legal guardian.

2

The court will appoint a guardian for the child.

formal

The court will appoint a guardian for the child.

3

He has been like a guardian angel to me this week.

informal

He has been like a guardian angel to me this week.

4

The study looks at the role of the guardian in early education.

academic

The study looks at the role of the guardian in early education.

5

The bank is the guardian of your private information.

business

The bank is the guardian of your private information.

Word Family

Noun
guardian
Verb
guard
Adverb
guardedly
Adjective
guarded
Related
guardianship

Common Collocations

legal guardian legal guardian
guardian angel guardian angel
appoint a guardian appoint a guardian
act as guardian act as guardian
natural guardian natural guardian

Common Phrases

legal guardian

the person legally responsible for a child

guardian angel

someone who protects and helps you

guardian of the peace

a person who protects the public law

Often Confused With

guardian vs guard

A guard usually watches a gate or a building, while a guardian has a legal or caring responsibility for someone.

guardian vs garden

A garden is a place where flowers grow; a guardian is a person who protects.

📝

Usage Notes

Use 'guardian' when talking about someone who has the legal right to care for a person who cannot care for themselves. It is more formal than 'helper' or 'friend'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 'guard' when they mean a legal 'guardian'. Use 'guardian' for family and legal contexts.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'guard'. A 'guardian' is a person (-ian) who 'guards' a child or someone's safety.

📖

Word Origin

From the Old French word 'gardien', which comes from 'garder' (to watch over or guard).

Grammar Patterns

countable noun often used with 'of' (guardian of the child) plural form is 'guardians'
🌍

Cultural Context

In many English-speaking countries, a legal guardian is appointed by a court if a child's parents are unable to care for them.

Quick Quiz

When the child's parents died, his uncle became his legal ___.

Correct!

The correct answer is: guardian

Related Grammar Rules

Related Words

unknown

A1

A person or thing that is not known, recognized, or familiar. It often refers to a mysterious situation or a person who has not yet achieved fame or success.

of

A1

A preposition used to show a relationship between a part and a whole, or to indicate belonging and origin. It connects a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence to specify which one or what kind.

in

A1

A preposition used to indicate position within a container, a space, an area, or a period of time. It describes being surrounded by something or being inside the boundaries of a location.

it

A1

A third-person singular pronoun used to refer to an object, animal, or situation that has already been mentioned or is clear from context. It is also frequently used as a dummy subject to talk about time, weather, or distance.

on

A1

A preposition used to indicate that something is in a position above and supported by a surface. It is also used to indicate a specific day or date, or to show that a device is functioning.

as

A1

A conjunction used to compare two things that are equal in some way. It is most commonly used in the pattern 'as + adjective/adverb + as' to show similarity.

this

A1

Used to identify a specific person, thing, or idea that is physically close to the speaker or has just been mentioned. It can also refer to the present time or a situation that is currently happening.

by

A1

A preposition used to show the method or means of doing something, or to identify the person or thing that performs an action. It frequently appears in passive sentences to indicate the agent or before modes of transport.

we

A1

The word 'we' is a first-person plural pronoun used to refer to the speaker and one or more other people collectively. It is used as the subject of a sentence or clause.

or

A1

A coordinating conjunction used to connect two or more possibilities or alternatives. it indicates that only one of the options is likely, required, or true.

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