Meaning & use
guard post
Last updated
UK/ˈɡɑːd ˌpəʊst/
US/ˈɡɑːrd ˌpoʊst/
Meaning
nouncountable
A fixed spot where a guard stands or sits to watch an area and control who enters.
Grammar: A plain countable noun: a guard post, three guard posts.
Patterns
- a guard post at something
- man a guard post
The soldiers kept watch from a guard post at the main gate.
There is a small guard post beside the factory entrance.
Visitors must stop at the guard post and show identification.
Word forms
| plural | guard posts |
|---|
Common combinations
- man a guard post
- Two officers man the guard post all night.
- border guard post
- The border guard post closes at midnight.
- leave a guard post
- No one may leave the guard post unattended.
- guard post at the gate
- A guard post at the gate checks every car.
- military guard post
- The military guard post overlooked the valley.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sentry post
- Sentry post is more military and focuses on a soldier standing watch.
- checkpoint
- A checkpoint is where people or vehicles are stopped and checked, while a guard post mainly marks where a guard is stationed.
- watchtower
- A watchtower is a raised structure for observing a wide area, unlike a guard post which may be at ground level.
- guardhouse
- A guardhouse is a building for guards, while a guard post can be just a spot or booth.
Word family
Commonly confused: guard post or guard rail?
guard post vs guard rail
A guard rail is a barrier at the side of a road or stairs, not a place where a guard stands.
Practice
Visitors to the base must first report to the ____.
Choose one answer.
A guard post is where a guard stands to check people entering. A guard rail is a safety barrier, so it does not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “guard post”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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