gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er ˈgāt-ˌkē-pər How to pronounce gatekeeper (audio)
1
: one that tends or guards a gate
2
: a person who controls access
gatekeeping noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When a movie is sold and the agents for the gatekeepers (producers, writers, directors, lead cast, financiers) are making their deals with a distributor, the bartering begins. Cathy Schulman, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2025 Traditional outlets, while no longer unchallenged gatekeepers, still offer credibility and depth. Jeffrey Herzog, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 Yet again, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid will be the gatekeepers to reaching the Super Bowl, as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick previously were to winning the AFC East and as four straight NFC challengers were to hoisting a Lombardi Trophy before that in the early 1990s. Tim Graham, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025 Not only is the platform a threat to more-traditional gatekeepers (which the majors may find easier to control), its negotiations over royalties, piracy and AI have grown tense in recent months. Thania Garcia, Variety, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for gatekeeper 

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gatekeeper was in 1572

Dictionary Entries Near gatekeeper

Cite this Entry

“Gatekeeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gatekeeper. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

gatekeeper

noun
gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər How to pronounce gatekeeper (audio)
1
: a person who tends or guards a gate
2
: a person who controls access

Medical Definition

gatekeeper

noun
gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər How to pronounce gatekeeper (audio)
: 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 enrolleesE. A. Halm et al.

More from Merriam-Webster on gatekeeper

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