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.
The financial system today relies on banks as the gatekeepers to do that. Steven Ehrlich, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2025 Joyce said the changes would improve diversity and experience on the commission, which serves as a sort of gatekeeper for the City Council, advising the council and in many cases deciding important land-use issues. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2025 DeFi is a financial network run on crypto, without traditional gatekeepers like banks. Michelle Conlin and Tom Wilson, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025 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 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 11 Feb. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!