Bodyguard
/ˈbɒdiˌɡɑːrd/
nounBeginner📊CommonOccupation
1 meaning2 questions
Definitions
1
A person employed to protect someone important.
/ˈbɒdiˌɡɑːrd/
nounneutralBeginner
Occupation
Person protecting someone
The pop star had several bodyguards with her.
💡 Simply: Someone who keeps someone safe.
More Examples
2
He hired a bodyguard for his daughter's safety.
How It's Used
Security
"The celebrity was surrounded by a team of bodyguards."
Politics
"The Prime Minister had a personal bodyguard at all times."
From body + guard. The combination emerged in the late 19th century, reflecting the increasing need for personal protection.
The term gained prominence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the rise of celebrity culture and increased threats to public figures.
Memory tip
Body + Guard = Bodyguard (someone guarding a body)
Word Origin
Original meaning
"A combination of 'body' referring to the person being protected and 'guard' meaning to protect or watch over."
personal bodyguardcelebrity bodyguardelite bodyguard
Common misspellings
bodygaurdbodygardboddyguard
Practice
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written