A guard is either a person or an organisation. It may be a person who looks after the safety of people or property, and/or make sure prisoners do not escape. It may also be a part of the military. It can also be an object, a fireguard for example.

Examples:

• Bodyguard
• Coast Guard
• National Guard
• Republican Guard
• Security guard
• Yeomen of the Guard
• Imperial Guard
• Royal Guard

They may also be elite military forces which guards a head of state:

• Praetorian Guard
• Varangian Guard
• Swiss Guard
• Imperial Guard of Japan

Because the head of state often wishes to be protected by the best soldiers available, their numbers and organisation may be expanded to carry out additional tasks:

• Persian Immortals
• The Royal Horse Guards and Foot Guards Regiments of the Household Division of the Commonwealth armies
• The Napoleon's Imperial Guard
• The Iraqi Republican Guard

Some times the term has been used for the complete military organisation of a state, because it guards the state from its enemies:

• Red Guard
• White Guard

It can also be a term used in sports such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo or Submission Wrestling

• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu guard

A guard is also a railway employee who (normally) travels in the last vehicle of a train and is responsible for the safety of the train itself.

See also:

• Vanguard (or advanced guard) and Rearguard or rear guard of an army
• hilt (of a sword)
• a defensive position in historical fencing, see ward (fencing)
• Guard (American football)
• Guard (basketball)