# Guards

/ˈɡɑɹdz/ (US) · /ɡˈɑːdz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/guards
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. people who protect

noun · CEFR A2

people whose job is to protect a place, a person, or an object.

For teachers: personnel assigned to protect a person, place, or thing from danger or escape.

- The security guards checked everyone's ID at the entrance to the building.
- Armed guards were stationed at every exit to ensure that no unauthorized personnel could enter the secure facility during the lockdown.

### 2. Irish police

noun · CEFR B2 · Dialect

the name for the police force in the Republic of Ireland.

For teachers: the national police force of the Republic of Ireland, formally known as An Garda Síochána.

- The guards were directing traffic away from the scene of the accident.
- Local residents reported the disturbance to the guards, who arrived within minutes to restore order to the neighborhood.

### 3. elite military units

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

special, high-ranking soldiers who protect a royal family or leader.

For teachers: elite regiments of a national army, specifically those tasked with protecting a monarch or head of state.

- The guards stood perfectly still outside the palace gates.
- The changing of the guards remains one of the most popular ceremonial traditions for tourists visiting the capital.

### 4. to protect

verb · CEFR A2

to watch over something to keep it safe or to prevent someone from escaping.

For teachers: to watch over in order to protect or control; the third-person singular present indicative form.

- The dog always guards the front door when a stranger walks by.
- The software automatically guards the system against external threats by scanning every incoming file for potential vulnerabilities.

## Examples

- The guards stand at the entrance of the building.
- Security guards patrol the shopping mall at night to prevent theft and ensure the doors are locked.
- Despite the presence of armed guards at every checkpoint, the protesters managed to deliver their petition directly to the governor's office during the shift change.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.