gatekeeper

noun

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

Synonyms

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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.
Tailor your resume to pass AI filters, showcase impact over rigid qualifications, address hiring biases, and leverage networking to get past gatekeepers. — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 The longtime James Bond producer and gatekeeper was joined by three top Amazon MGM Studios executives — Jennifer Salke, Courtenay Valenti and Julie Rapaport — for a night that also included dinner and shop talk. — Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 26 Feb. 2025 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 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

Rhymes for gatekeeper

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Browse Nearby Words

gatekeeper
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Cite this Entry

“Gatekeeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gatekeeper. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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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 enrollees— E. A. Halm et al.

More from Merriam-Webster on gatekeeper

Nglish: Translation of gatekeeper for Spanish Speakers

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