gatekeeper

[ geyt-kee-per ]

noun

1. a person in charge of a gate, usually to identify, count, supervise, etc., the traffic that flows through it.
2. a person or thing that controls access, as to information, often acting as an arbiter of quality or legitimacy: An open internet allows innovators to bypass traditional gatekeepers and promote their work on its own merit. Compare influencer ( def 2 ).

   Treating office gatekeepers with respect will improve your chances of scheduling a face-to-face meeting or job interview.

   An open internet allows innovators to bypass traditional gatekeepers and promote their work on its own merit.

3. a guardian; monitor:

   the gatekeepers of Western culture.

gatekeeper

/ ˈɡeɪtˌkiːpə /

noun

1. a person who has charge of a gate and controls who may pass through it
2. any of several Eurasian butterflies of the genus Pyronia, esp P. tithonus, having brown-bordered orange wings with a black-and-white eyespot on each forewing: family Satyridae
3. a manager in a large organization who controls the flow of information, esp to parent and subsidiary companies

Word History and Origins

Origin of gatekeeper¹

First recorded in 1565–75; in 1905–10 gatekeeper fordefs 2, 3; gate ¹ + keeper

Example Sentences

Newman argues journals are reluctant to publish the paper because established researchers in the field are acting as gatekeepers.

From Science Magazine

Also, the partial democratization of the information economy means that the old gatekeepers in corporate media no longer have anywhere near as much influence as they used to have.

From Salon

First, we had to go over and around the gatekeepers in the news media by going to the American people directly with our ad about Trump's apparently extreme psychopathology.

From Salon

Its two digital laws aim to rein in powerful "gatekeeper" tech companies, provide more choice for consumers and protect users of online platforms or services from illegal or harmful content.

From BBC

While Professor Candeub is a “free speech absolutist”, he’s also wary of the power concentrated in the platforms that can be gatekeepers of speech via computer code.

From BBC

Related Words

• protector