keeper

noun

keep·​er ˈkē-pər 

1

: one that keeps: such as

a

: protector

b

: gamekeeper

c

: warden

d

: custodian

e

chiefly British : curator

2

: any of various devices for keeping something in position

3

a

: one suitable for or worth keeping: such as

(1)

: a fruit or vegetable that keeps well

(2)

: a fish large enough to be legally caught and kept

(3)

: one having genuine or lasting merit

their new album is a keeper

b

: a domestic animal considered with respect to how easy it is to care for

an easy keeper

4

: goalkeeper

5

: an offensive football play in which the quarterback runs with the ball

Synonyms of keeper

• custodian
• guardian
• guard
• warden

Examples of keeper in a Sentence

Hold on to that boyfriend of yours—he's a keeper!

how should I know where she is? I'm not her keeper

Recent Examples on the Web

Zaragoza ‘keeper Esteban Andrada was shown a red card for a rather pantomime push on Huesca captain Jorge Pulido — and reacted to the dismissal by wiping out Pulido with a distinctly un-pantomime smash to the face (above). —Phil Hay, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

Dortmund ‘keeper Gregor Kobel denied Cyriaque Irié a consolation goal. —ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026

Early record keepers captured the story of each game in 9×9 grids. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2026

Werner sent keeper Brad Stuver the wrong way from the penalty spot to score his second goal since arriving from Germany at the start of the season. —Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing keeper

• park-keeper

Rhymes for keeper

• beeper
• cheaper
• creeper
• deeper
• reaper
• sleeper
• steeper
• sweeper
• beekeeper
• bookkeeper
• doorkeeper
• gamekeeper

Kids Definition

keeper

noun

keep·​er ˈkē-pər 

: one that keeps

they are keepers of their word

especially : a person who watches, guards, or takes care of something or someone

the keeper of a shop

Legal Definition

keeper

noun

keep·​er

: one that takes care of and often is legally responsible for something

a dog's keeper

a keeper of the property