watchdog
Americannoun
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a dog kept to guard property.
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a watchful guardian.
a self-appointed watchdog of the public morals.
adjective
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of, relating to, or characteristic of a watchdog.
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organized or functioning as a watchful guardian, especially against illegal or unethical conduct.
a watchdog group in the legislature.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a dog kept to guard property
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a person or group of persons that acts as a protector or guardian against inefficiency, illegal practices, etc
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( as modifier )
a watchdog committee
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Etymology
Origin of watchdog
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The European Commission, the EU's digital watchdog, said Meta will have to maintain access to competitors until Brussels wraps up its probe.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
It just so happens that the watchdog overseeing the largest single item in the federal budget, the inspector general of Social Security, has just submitted its latest report to Congress.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026
The LAPD’s civilian watchdog has demanded an audit to ensure, as one official said during a May 12 meeting, that the unit’s actions aren’t “just a tip of the iceberg.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
The watchdog report into royal residences shows that Princess Eugenie has a property in Kensington Palace and Princess Beatrice in St James's Palace.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
“What are you doing here?” growled the watchdog.
From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
