warden

UK: /ˈwɔː^rd^ən/ US: /ˈwɔrdən/ ,(wôr′dn)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

war•den /ˈwɔrdən/   n. [countable]

1. Government a person whose job is the care and custody of something;
   keeper.
2. Government the chief administrative officer of a prison.
3. Government an official whose job is the enforcement of regulations: a fire warden.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

war•den  (wôr′dn), n. 

1. Government a person charged with the care or custody of persons, animals, or things;
   keeper.
2. Government the chief administrative officer in charge of a prison.
3. Government any of various public officials charged with superintendence, as over a port or wildlife.
4. Government See air-raid warden. 
5. Government See fire warden. 
6. Government (in Connecticut) the chief executive officer of a borough.
7. Government (formerly) the principal official in a region, town, etc.
8. Government, British Terms [Brit.]
   • (cap.) a traditional title of the president or governor of certain schools and colleges:
     Warden of Merton College.
   • a member of a livery company of the City of London.
9. Government, British Terms [Canadian.] the head of certain county or local councils.
10. Government a member of the governing body of a guild.
11. a churchwarden.
12. a gatekeeper.

• Gmc -ing -ing³
• Old French (northeast dialect, dialectal), equivalent. to ward- (root of warder to guard; see ward) + -ein, variant of -ien, -enc
• Middle English wardein 1175–1225

ward′en•ship′, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. warder, guardian, guard, custodian, caretaker, superintendent.

War•den  (wôr′dn), n. [Brit.]

1. British Terms, Food any of several pears having a crisp, firm flesh, used in cookery.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

warden / ˈwɔːd^ən/ noun

1. a person who has the charge or care of something, esp a building, or someone
2. any of various public officials, esp one responsible for the enforcement of certain regulations
3. a person employed to patrol a national park or safari park
4. the chief officer in charge of a prison
5. the principal or president of any of various universities or colleges
6. See churchwarden1

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old Northern French wardein, from warder to guard, of Germanic origin; see guard