A warden is a person who is responsible for a particular place or thing, and for making sure that the laws or regulations that relate to it are obeyed.
He was a warden at the local parish church. [+ at]
Game wardens were appointed to enforce hunting laws in New Hampshire.
Synonyms: steward, guardian, administrator, superintendent [US] More Synonyms of warden
2. See also traffic warden
3. countable noun
The warden of a prison is the person in charge of it.
[US]
A new warden took over the prison.
regional note: in BRIT, use governor
Synonyms: governor, head, leader, director More Synonyms of warden
More Synonyms of warden
warden in British English1
(ˈwɔːdən)
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. mainly US and Canadian
the chief officer in charge of a prison
5. British
the principal or president of any of various universities or colleges
6. churchwarden (sense 1)
Derived forms
wardenry (ˈwardenry)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old Northern French wardein, from warder to guard, of Germanic origin; see guard
warden in British English2
(ˈwɔːdən)
noun
a variety of pear that has crisp firm flesh and is used for cooking
Word origin
C15: of obscure origin
Warden in American English
(ˈwɔrdən)
noun
[sometimesw-]
an old variety of winter pear used chiefly for cooking
Word origin
ME wardone, prob. < NormFr warder, to keep: see , ward verb transitive
warden in American English
(ˈwɔrdən)
noun
1.
a person who guards, or has charge of, something; keeper, custodian, or special supervisory official
fire warden, game warden
2.
the chief administrative official of a prison
3.
in England, a title for
a.
a governor
b.
an officer in charge of a certain department of government
c.
the superintendent of a port or market
now obsolete when used for other high government officers
4.
in England,
a.
a governing officer in certain guilds, hospitals, etc.; trustee
b.
the head of certain British colleges and of some schools
5.
in Connecticut, the chief executive of a borough
6.
churchwarden (sense 1)
7. Archaic
a gatekeeper or watchman
Derived forms
wardenship (ˈwardenˌship)
noun
Word origin
ME wardein < NormFr, warden (for OFr gardien): see guardian
Examples of 'warden' in a sentence
warden
The prison warden said that they were my weak point.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We showed him trying to trick parking wardens by placing an old ticket on his car.
The Sun (2016)
We want police and dog wardens empowered to warn people who may be making their animal dangerous.
The Sun (2013)
The widowed mum of four was a church warden and a keen charity fundraiser.
The Sun (2010)
Why not put traffic wardens onto it?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Did he have an unpleasant experience with a traffic warden or his local constabulary?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Rusty metal staircases are patrolled by prison wardens.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Traffic wardens are not the most popular people in the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
DON'T team your mini with prison warden boots.
The Sun (2012)
The traffic wardens have a field day.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It almost makes you feel sorry for parking wardens.
The Sun (2014)
He was a game warden; the lioness had been bothering local cattle farmers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Council's dog wardens had caught her allowing a dog to foul the footpath.
The Sun (2006)
I reported her missing to the dog warden and the police.
The Sun (2006)
Is it a church warden?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I always fancied being a game warden in Kenya.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Yet nobody, we fear, enjoyed it as much as the local traffic wardens.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
And church wardens, who are volunteers, rarely have the specialist knowledge required.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He stole the maid's car and was spotted by game wardens, who gave chase.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A former chief park warden involved in the lucrative illegal charcoal trade was arrested and new management of the park has strengthened the animals' protection.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
warden
British English: warden /ˈwɔːdn/ NOUN
A warden is an official who is responsible for a particular place or thing, and for making sure that certain laws are obeyed.