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

Recent Examples on the Web Lucas, who this year became chairwoman of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, has enormous power as one of the gatekeepers of the state budget. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 Even when the internet rolled around, many librarians felt they were supposed to be the sole gatekeepers of knowledge and information. Diba Mohtasham, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 As gatekeepers to the profession, medical school admissions committees and pre-health advisers must confront their own biases and embrace a holistic admissions approach that considers hardships experienced by applicants. Tricia Pendergrast, STAT, 7 Mar. 2024 All of the gatekeepers being targeted by the DMA still need to get their proposals approved by the European Commission. Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 6 Mar. 2024 He’s held down opening slots for Lil Baby and J. Cole, landed roles in streaming movies, and appeared in commercials for brands like Google, Bud Light, and Nike — C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans even quoted him in a postgame presser — all while brushing aside the traditional gatekeepers. Delisa Shannon, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2024 Dove Valley still had a Super Bowl glow, its gatekeepers a Super Bowl hubris. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 2 Feb. 2024 Of course, other Apple and Microsoft platforms like iOS and Windows are very much designated as gatekeepers. David Meyer, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2024 In most countries, national health plans are the gatekeepers that examine whether treatments are safe, effective, reasonable, and necessary. Diana Zuckerman, STAT, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gatekeeper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 29 Mar. 2024.

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

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