Guardianship: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ
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guardianship

 

[ หˆษกษ‘หrdษชษ™nสƒษชp ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal responsibility for someone

Guardianship refers to the legal responsibility for someone, typically a child or incapacitated adult, including making decisions about their welfare and managing their affairs.

Synonyms

care, custody, protection.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
guardianship

Used in legal and formal contexts where someone is given the legal responsibility to care for someone else, often a minor or someone unable to care for themselves due to disability or incapacity

  • The court granted her guardianship of her niece after her parents passed away
custody

Often used in legal and judicial contexts to indicate the protective care or guardianship of someone, particularly in matters regarding children or detainees. It can also imply control or possession

  • After the divorce, he fought for custody of his children
care

Used in everyday contexts to depict the act of looking after someone or something, providing what they need. It can refer to both physical and emotional support

  • She took great care of her garden, making sure every plant was thriving
protection

Refers to the act of keeping someone or something safe from harm, danger, or loss. This word can be used in both everyday and formal contexts

  • The bodyguard's main duty was the protection of the celebrity

Examples of usage

  • The court granted guardianship of the child to his grandparents.
  • She was appointed as the guardian under a legal guardianship agreement.
Context #2 | Noun

protection or support provided by a guardian

Guardianship can also refer to the protection or support provided by a guardian, ensuring the well-being and safety of the individual under their care.

Synonyms

care, protection.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
guardianship

This word is used in legal or formal contexts to refer to the responsibility of caring for someone's well-being, usually when that individual is unable to care for themselves. It often applies to minors or individuals who are incapacitated.

  • After her parents passed away, the court granted guardianship of the young girl to her uncle.
  • Guardianship involves making critical decisions regarding the child's education and health.
care

This word is more general and can apply to everyday scenarios where someone is looking after another person's needs, whether those needs are physical, emotional, or otherwise. It does not necessarily involve legal responsibility.

  • She gave her elderly neighbor the care he needed after his surgery.
  • Taking care of a new puppy requires a lot of attention and patience.
protection

This word is often used to mean keeping someone or something safe from harm or danger. It might involve physical safety, emotional safety, or shielding from negative influences. It usually has a more active sense, implying action to prevent harm.

  • The police provided protection for the witnesses during the trial.
  • Parents naturally want to provide protection for their children.

Examples of usage

  • The guardian took his role of providing guardianship seriously.
  • She provided emotional guardianship to the orphaned children.

Translations

Translations of the word "guardianship" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น tutela

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค…เคญเคฟเคญเคพเคตเค•เคคเฅเคต

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Vormundschaft

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ perwalian

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะพะฟั–ะบะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ kuratela

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅพŒ่ฆ‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท tutelle

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ tutela

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท vesayet

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ›„๊ฒฌ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูˆุตุงูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ opatrovnictvรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ opatrovnรญctvo

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็›‘ๆŠค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ skrbniลกtvo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ forrรฆรฐi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะฐะผา›ะพั€ัˆั‹ะปั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒ”แƒฃแƒ แƒ•แƒ”แƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ himayษ™รงilik

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ tutela

Etymology

The term 'guardianship' originates from the word 'guardian', which comes from the Old French 'gardien' and ultimately from the Latin 'guardia', meaning 'a keeper or protector'. The concept of guardianship has been present in various legal systems throughout history, emphasizing the importance of protecting and caring for individuals who are unable to fully care for themselves. The legal framework surrounding guardianship has evolved over time to ensure the best interests of the vulnerable individuals are upheld.

See also: guardians.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,859, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.