guards: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “guards” mean?
people who protect, watch over, or control access to a person, place, or thing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
people who protect, watch over, or control access to a person, place, or thing.
1. A defensive posture or stance adopted in sports (e.g., boxing, fencing). 2. A protective part or fitting on machinery. 3. A squad of soldiers protecting a place or person. 4. A regiment or corps (e.g., the Queen's Guard). 5. (Basketball/Football) The players primarily responsible for offense and ball control.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK contexts, 'the Guards' (capitalised) specifically refers to elite regiments of the British Army (e.g., Grenadier Guards). In US contexts, 'guard' is used for sports positions (point guard, shooting guard) more commonly. Spelling: UK: 'guardsman', US: also 'guardsman'.
Connotations
UK: Strong association with ceremonial duty, tradition, and monarchy. US: Stronger association with sports, security personnel, and pragmatic protection.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties, but domain-specific uses differ.
Grammar
How to Use “guards” in a Sentence
NP1 (Subject) + guard + NP2 (Object) [protect]NP1 + be + guarded + by + NP2 [passive protection]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guards” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He guards the entrance to the vault.
- She carefully guarded her privacy.
American English
- The player guards the opponent tightly.
- They guard against cyber attacks.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'guardedly' is the adverbial form)
American English
- (Not standard; 'guardedly' is the adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- The guard dog was highly trained.
- He took a guard position at the gate.
American English
- She plays guard position on the team.
- Check the guard rail for damage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Security guards patrol the premises after hours.
Academic
The study examined the changing role of palace guards in medieval monarchies.
Everyday
The museum guards reminded us not to touch the exhibits.
Technical
The machine's safety guards must be engaged before operation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “guards”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “guards”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guards”
- Using a singular verb with plural 'guards' (e.g., 'The guards is here' – incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'gards'.
- Confusing 'guard' (noun/verb) with 'guide'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the plural form of the noun 'guard'. The verb must agree plurally (e.g., The guards are here).
A 'guard' protects a place, object, or group. A 'bodyguard' is specifically hired to protect an individual person.
Yes, meaning 'to protect, watch over, or keep secure' (e.g., 'Guard the perimeter').
It's an idiom referring to long-established, often conservative, members of a group who resist change.
people who protect, watch over, or control access to a person, place, or thing.
Guards is usually neutral to formal in register.
Guards: in British English it is pronounced /ɡɑːdz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡɑːrdz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “catch someone off guard”
- “lower your guard”
- “old guard”
- “mount guard”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GUARDS sound like 'GARD' (as in garden) + 'S'. Imagine soldiers guarding a royal garden.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS A SHIELD; VIGILANCE IS A WALL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'guards' NOT typically refer to people providing security?