gatekeeper

IPA/ˈɡeɪtkiːpə(r)/
KK[ɡˈetkˌipɚ]IPA/ˈɡeɪtkiːpər/

gatekeeper — noun

  • gatekeepersingular
  • gatekeepersplural

1. a person who stands at a gate or entrance, making sure only people with permissi

1.名詞B1
釋義

a person who stands at a gate or entrance, making sure only people with permission can go in or out

例句

The gatekeeper checked my identity card before letting me onto the factory grounds.

check + permission before entry

An old gatekeeper sat in a small wooden booth by the entrance of the estate.

同義詞
  • guard

    a broader term; a guard may patrol an area, whereas a gatekeeper stays at a specific entrance

  • doorman

    usually works at a hotel or apartment building, helping with doors and luggage as well as checking entry

  • sentry

    a military guard who stands watch at a gate or checkpoint

用法筆記

The literal sense denotes a physical job; it appears less often in everyday conversation than the figurative sense below.

常見錯誤

❌The guard at the company's main door is a gatekeeper.
✅The guard at the company's main door checks visitors.
💡'gatekeeper' strongly implies a person stationed at a gate or specific entrance, not just any security guard.

2. a person, group, or system that controls who is allowed to have something, such

2.名詞B2
釋義

a person, group, or system that controls who is allowed to have something, such as a job, a service, or information

例句

Editors act as gatekeepers who decide which stories are published in the newspaper.

gatekeeper who decides + [outcome]

Yara's professor was the gatekeeper for the research scholarship, choosing the most suitable candidates.

gatekeeper for + [resource]

同義詞
  • controller

    more neutral; a controller may manage existing systems, while a gatekeeper decides on entry

  • arbiter

    formal; suggests making judgments on quality or eligibility

  • regulator

    an official body that enforces rules, not quite the same as deciding who gets access

反義詞
  • outsider

    someone who is on the other side of the gatekeeper's decision

文法句型

gatekeeper of + [domain/resource]

用法筆記

Common in professional contexts — media, healthcare, finance, and immigration. The object of control is typically an opportunity or resource, not a physical place.

常見錯誤

❌The company is a gatekeeper of the modern technology.
✅The company acts as a gatekeeper to the modern technology market.
💡'gatekeeper' usually pairs with 'to' or 'for' indicating the resource being controlled, not 'of' with a general noun.