warden

noun

war·​den ˈwȯr-dᵊn 

1

: one having care or charge of something : guardian, keeper

2

a

: regent sense 2

b

: the governor of a town, district, or fortress

c

: a member of the governing body of a guild

3

a

: an official charged with special supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specified laws or regulations

game warden

air raid warden

b

: an official in charge of the operation of a prison

c

: any of various British officials having designated administrative functions

warden of the mint

4

a

: one of two ranking lay officers of an Episcopal parish

b

: any of various British college officials whose duties range from the administration of academic matters to the supervision of student discipline

Synonyms

• custodian
• guard
• guardian
• keeper
• lookout
• minder
• picket
• sentinel
• sentry
• warder
• watch
• watcher
• watchman

Examples of warden in a Sentence

the warden of the cemetery

in his role as warden of the school, a principal must provide a safe environment for the students

Recent Examples on the Web

Broadway and a neighboring inmate, Anthony Ehlers, had at some point before Broadway’s death told the prison warden about these issues and the high temperatures, and Truitt assured them that the issues would get fixed, the lawsuit alleges. —Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 14 Nov. 2024

Five minutes into the procedure, the warden shook him and shouted his name. —Brendan Farrington, Sun Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2024

The accused include a nurse, a journalist, a prison warden, a local councillor, a soldier, lorry drivers and farm workers. —Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 11 Nov. 2024

Well, the wardens don’t have power beyond what the law says, right? —Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wardein, from Anglo-French wardein, gardein, from warder to guard

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing warden

• dog warden
• game warden
• traffic warden

Kids Definition

warden

noun

war·​den ˈwȯrd-ᵊn 

1

: one who has charge or care of something : guardian, keeper

2

: the governor of a town, district, or fortress

3

: an official charged with special duties or with the enforcement of specified laws or regulations

game warden

4

: an official in charge of a prison

5

a

: a lay officer of an Episcopal parish

b

: any of various British college officials

Legal Definition

warden

noun

war·​den

1

: an official charged with special supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specified laws or regulations

a game warden

2

: an official in charge of the operation of a prison

Etymology

Anglo-French wardein, gardein guardian, from warder, garder to guard, protect