keeper
B1Neutral; used in everyday, sports, professional, and some technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A person who manages, guards, or maintains something.
Something worth keeping or retaining; a successful catch in sports (especially soccer).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word primarily functions as a noun. Its meaning ranges from a concrete person (a custodian) to an abstract quality (something of value). In sports (soccer), it is a common informal term for a goalkeeper.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In sports, 'keeper' for 'goalkeeper' is equally common in both varieties. 'Zoo keeper'/'zookeeper' is standard. 'Shopkeeper' is slightly more British in feel, though understood in AmE where 'store owner/clerk' is more frequent.
Connotations
Similar core connotations. In AmE, 'keeper' in the sense of 'a catch' (e.g., "He's a keeper") might be slightly more prevalent in informal romantic contexts.
Frequency
Comparably frequent, with a slight edge in BrE due to traditional job titles like 'gamekeeper', 'innkeeper'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
keeper of [something][adjective] keeperVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's/She's a keeper.”
- “That's a keeper!”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a reliable employee or a profitable client worth retaining. 'That client is a real keeper for the firm.'
Academic
Rare. Used in historical contexts (e.g., 'keeper of manuscripts') or in sports science.
Everyday
Common for jobs (zookeeper), sports (goalkeeper), and informal评价 of people/things. 'This recipe is a keeper.'
Technical
Used in specific fields: forestry (gamekeeper), beekeeping, timekeeping (timekeeper), record management.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a standard verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adjective.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The zookeeper feeds the lions.
- He is the goalkeeper for our team.
- We need to find a new keeper for the museum's archives.
- My grandmother was the keeper of all our family stories.
- After that amazing save, the keeper became the hero of the match.
- The shopkeeper insisted the item was not returnable.
- The ancient title 'Keeper of the Seal' carried immense political weight.
- In data governance, the role of a record keeper is crucial for compliance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a person who KEEPs something safe – a keep-ER.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUABLE OBJECTS ARE THINGS TO BE KEPT (extending to people and relationships).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'keeper' as 'хранитель' for all contexts; it's often a specific compound: 'смотритель' (zookeeper), 'вратарь' (goalkeeper), 'владелец магазина' (shopkeeper).
- The informal 'a keeper' (about a person) is best translated idiomatically as 'на нем/ней стоит жениться/выйти замуж' or 'это тот самый человек'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'keeper' as a direct synonym for 'boss' or 'manager' in non-custodial contexts.
- Incorrectly forming plurals as 'keepers' (correct) but sometimes over-applied to uncountable concepts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'keeper' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral. Its formality depends on the compound (e.g., 'record keeper' can be professional, 'zookeeper' is a standard job title, while 'he's a keeper' is very informal).
'Guardian' implies legal or moral responsibility for protection, often of a person (a child). 'Keeper' implies physical custody, maintenance, or management of objects, animals, or places.
Yes, informally. If you say a recipe, a photo, or an item is 'a keeper', it means it is particularly good and worth keeping/retaining.
No, 'goalkeeper' is the formal term. 'Keeper' is a universally understood and very common informal shortening in soccer and similar sports.