protector

UK: /prəˈtɛktə/ US: /prəˈtɛktɚ/ ,(prə tek′tər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•tec•tor /prəˈtɛktɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a person that guards or protects someone or something from harm.
2. a device that protects someone from injury:
   A baseball catcher wears a chest protector.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•tec•tor  (prə tek′tər), n. 

1. a person or thing that protects;
   defender;
   guardian.
2. World History [Eng. Hist.]
   • a person in charge of the kingdom during the sovereign's minority, incapacity, or absence.
   • (cap.) Also called Lord Protector. the title of the head of the government during the period of the Protectorate, held by Oliver Cromwell (1653–58) and by Richard Cromwell, his son (1658–59).

• Middle French
• Late Latin (see protect, -tor); replacing Middle English protectour
• 1325–75

pro•tec′tor•al, adj. 
pro•tec′tor•less, adj. 
pro•tec′tor•ship′, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

protector / prəˈtɛktə/ noun

1. a person or thing that protects
2. a person who exercised royal authority during the minority, absence, or incapacity of the monarch

proˈtectress, proˈtectrix noun:feminine

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Protector / prəˈtɛktə/ noun

1. short for Lord Protector, the title borne by Oliver Cromwell (1653–58) and by Richard Cromwell (1658–59) as heads of state during the period known as the Protectorate