Word
guardianship
Phoneticsguardian·ship
US/ˈɡɑɹdiənʃɪp/
UK/ɡˈɑːdiənʃˌɪp/
Definition
n. the legal right and duty to care for someone who cannot take care of themselves, like a child or a person with a mental illness. It can also mean the protection of a place or a set of rules.
n. the legal status or duty of a person or institution to care for and protect another person or entity. Often refers to the legal relationship between a guardian and a minor or an incapacitated adult.
Examples
“The court granted her legal guardianship of her nephew.”
“The local council established guardianship over the historic park to ensure it remained open to the public.”
“In many jurisdictions, the transfer of guardianship requires a formal court hearing to determine that the new guardian is capable of making sound decisions for the ward's welfare.”
Examples
simple
“The court granted her legal guardianship of her nephew.”
contextual
“The local council established guardianship over the historic park to ensure it remained open to the public.”
complex
“In many jurisdictions, the transfer of guardianship requires a formal court hearing to determine that the new guardian is capable of making sound decisions for the ward's welfare.”
Real-World Examples
“In Aotearoa New Zealand, products invoking Māori well-being, values, land or environmental guardianship should meaningfully involve Māori in defining impact and assessing risk.” “Legal advice is particularly important where circumstances are more complicated, such as blended families, businesses, trusts, guardianship arrangements or complex assets.” Etymology
From guardian + -ship.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/guardianship