Definition

Noun: A person whose job is to guard prisoners in a jail or prison; a jailer.

Usage

The word "gaoler" is used to refer to the individual responsible for the custody and supervision of inmates in a prison. It is a formal and somewhat dated term, largely synonymous with "jailer."

Examples

• The old gaoler carried a large ring of keys.
• In the historical novel, the protagonist bribed the gaoler to escape.
• The gaoler made his nightly rounds of the cells.

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in British English and is considered archaic in modern contexts, with "prison guard," "warder," or "correctional officer" being more common contemporary terms.
• It can appear in historical, literary, or legal contexts to evoke a specific time period or formal tone.

Variants and Related Words

• Jailer (noun): The more common modern spelling, especially in American English. It has the same meaning as "gaoler."
• Warder (noun): A British term for a prison guard.
• Turnkey (noun): An archaic term for a jailer, emphasizing the keeper of the keys.

Synonyms

• Prison guard
• Jailer
• Warder (chiefly British)
• Correctional officer
• Turnkey (archaic)

Antonyms

• Prisoner
• Inmate
• Convict

Noun

1. someone who guards prisoners