gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er ˈgāt-ˌkē-pər 

1

: one that tends or guards a gate

2

: a person who controls access

gatekeeping

ˈgāt-ˌkē-piŋ 

noun

Synonyms

• doorkeeper
• doorman
• janitor
• porter [chiefly British]

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

Technology shattered an old equilibrium dominated by a few centralized information gatekeepers. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news The gatekeepers of information have always played a crucial role for society. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024

From technical experts in city governments to committee staff members in Congress, these experts act as gatekeepers for the information lawmakers receive. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Amid the shortages, COGAT became a target of outrage among Palestinians and aid workers, likened by one security expert to a prison gatekeeper. —Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər 

1

: a person who tends or guards a gate

2

: a person who controls access

Medical Definition

gatekeeper

noun

gate·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər 

: 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.