gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er ˈgāt-ˌkē-pər 

1

: one that tends or guards a gate

2

: a person who controls access

gatekeeping

ˈgāt-ˌkē-piŋ 

noun

Synonyms

• doorkeeper
• doorman
• janitor
• porter [chiefly British]

Examples of gatekeeper in a Sentence

those who are hopelessly unhip have little chance of making past the club's gatekeeper and his velvet rope

Recent Examples on the Web

But the battlefield for me is the rarefied air of the gatekeepers. —Giulia Carbonaro, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025

Leavitt said non-traditional media should have a bigger say than traditional media gatekeepers, which Trump’s MAGA supporters often accuse of being biased against conservatives. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025

Insurers must shift from being gatekeepers to becoming true partners in health. —Rita Numerof, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

More specifically, the two gatekeepers are tasked with preventing whatever evil lurks at the bottom of the ravine from getting out into the world. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gatekeeper

• beekeeper
• bookkeeper
• doorkeeper
• gamekeeper
• goalkeeper
• housekeeper
• innkeeper
• minesweeper
• peacekeeper
• shopkeeper
• storekeeper
• timekeeper

Kids Definition

gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər 

1

: a person who tends or guards a gate

2

: a person who controls access

Medical Definition

gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər 

: a health-care professional (as a primary care physician) who regulates access especially to hospitals and specialists

managed care plans rely on a designated physician gatekeeper to orchestrate and control the health care of its enrollees

—E. A. Halm et al.