Standard Lemma guide

tutelary

adj · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈtjuːtɪləɹɪ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈtutɪlɛɹɪ/

1

adj

Meaning 1

Relating to guardianship or protection.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • When a minor is involved, tutelary powers frequently accompany powers of attorney.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Of or pertaining to a guardian.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • My uncle is always happy to discharge his tutelary responsibilities towards me.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Having the qualities of a tutor.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A deity or spirit serving as a guardian or protector of a place, person, culture, etc.; a tutelar, a tutelary deity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: lifestyle, paganism, religion

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

providing protective supervision; watching over or safeguarding

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • daycare that is educational and not just custodial
  • a guardian angel
  • tutelary gods

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: custodial, tutelar

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin tūtēlārius (“guardian”), from tūtēla (“tutelage, guardianship; dependent, client”) + -ārius (suffix denoting an agent of use); analysable as tutelar + -ary.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: tutelar — having guardianship or protection of
  • French: tutélaire — having guardianship or protection of
  • Japanese: 守護の (syugono) — having guardianship or protection of
  • Japanese: 後見上の (koukenjouno) — having guardianship or protection of
  • Portuguese: tutelar — having guardianship or protection of
  • Russian: опеку́нский (opekúnskij) — having guardianship or protection of
  • Spanish: tutelar — having guardianship or protection of
  • French: tuteur — a guardian
  • Russian: охрани́тель (oxranítelʹ) — a guardian
  • Spanish: tutor — a guardian
  • Spanish: guardián — a guardian
  • Swedish: rådare — a guardian