stopwatch

American  

[stop-woch] / ˈstɒpˌwɒtʃ /

noun

stopwatches plural

1. a watch with a hand or hands that can be stopped or started at any instant, used for precise timing, as in races.

---

stopwatch British  

/ ˈstɒpˌwɒtʃ /

noun

1. a type of watch used for timing events, such as sporting events, accurately, having a device for stopping the hand or hands instantly

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• stopwatches
  plural

Etymology

Origin of stopwatch

First recorded in 1730–40; stop + watch

Example Sentences

Appeared in the November 1, 2025, print edition as 'How I Learned to Turn Off My Stopwatch and Just Run'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

The letter, co-ordinated by the Runnymede Trust and signed by groups and individuals including Inquest, Stopwatch, the Black Equity Organisation and Lord Woolley, called for "a more comprehensive plan".

From BBC • Jul. 28, 2023

Stopwatch in hand, between barked orders — “Six laps! Head underwater, no cheating” — Ms. Zhang rattled off the virtues: It was free, there were no set hours and swimming under a roof felt oppressive.

From New York Times • Jun. 25, 2022

Vickers said the late Sir John Johnston, the comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's office - also known as "Stopwatch Johnnie" - remains legendary for keeping everything running to plan.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 9, 2011

Related Words

• timepiece
• wristwatch