keeper

[ kee-per ]

noun

1. a person who guards or watches, as at a prison or gate.

   Synonyms: jailer, warden

2. a person who assumes responsibility for another's behavior:

   He refused to be his brother's keeper.

   Synonyms: guardian, custodian

3. a person who owns or operates a business (usually used in combination):

   a hotelkeeper.

4. a person who is responsible for the maintenance of something (often used in combination):

   a zookeeper; a groundskeeper.

5. a person charged with responsibility for the preservation and conservation of something valuable, as a curator or game warden.
6. a person who conforms to or abides by a requirement:

   a keeper of his word.

7. a fish that is of sufficient size to be caught and retained without violating the law.
8. Football. a play in which the quarterback retains the ball and runs with it, usually after faking a hand-off or pass.
9. something that serves to hold in place, retain, etc., as on a door lock.
10. something that lasts well, as a fruit.
11. guard ring.
12. an iron or steel bar placed across the poles of a permanent horseshoe magnet for preserving the strength of the magnet during storage.

keeper

/ ˈkiːpə /

noun

1. a person in charge of animals, esp in a zoo
2. a person in charge of a museum, collection, or section of a museum
3. a person in charge of other people, such as a warder in a jail
4. See goalkeeper wicketkeeper gamekeeper
5. a person who keeps something
6. a device, such as a clip, for keeping something in place
7. a soft iron or steel bar placed across the poles of a permanent magnet to close the magnetic circuit when it is not in use

Derived Forms

• ˈkeeperˌship, noun
• ˈkeeperless, adjective

Other Words From

• keeper·less adjective
• keeper·ship noun
• under·keeper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of keeper¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, keeper is from the Middle English word keper. See keep, -er ¹

Example Sentences

The Rosengard keeper focused on the importance of not conceding, and insisted the tie remains in the balance.

From BBC

Pope remains the last England keeper to score a Test hundred overseas.

From BBC

It was ludicrous to come to New Zealand with three frontline spinners and no back-up keeper, yet England have been left disorientated by the injury to Jordan Cox.

From BBC

Cox was due to make his own debut as regular keeper Jamie Smith is on paternity leave, but broke his right thumb in the nets during England's warm-up game in Queenstown over the weekend.

From BBC

If so, the baby also will be managed by Moo Deng’s keeper, who has enjoyed his own rise in fame, if not in pay.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• attendant
• caretaker
• curator
• custodian
• defender