suicide watch
Americannoun
-
a system of regular checking on prison inmates or psychiatric patients who are believed to be suicidal.
The prisoner was on suicide watch, but somehow managed to hang himself.
-
close observation or supervision of someone in order to prevent suicide.
We took turns staying at her place, on suicide watch until she was able to get professional help.
noun
Etymology
Origin of suicide watch
First recorded in 1925–30
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.
A federal magistrate judge earlier apologized to Allen for his jail conditions, which included suicide watch and constant lighting.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026
R. Kelly’s lawyer explains why the R&B artist was put on suicide watch after being sentenced this week to 30 years in prison.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2025
In 2019, 61-year-old Alan Nichols opted for an assisted death after he was admitted to a British Columbia hospital for suicide watch.
From BBC • Jan. 13, 2023
In a Tuesday morning reply to Kelly's lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court, prosecutors said Kelly had been removed from suicide watch following a clinical assessment.
From Reuters • Jul. 5, 2022
Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn filed court papers late Saturday saying the disgraced R&B superstar remains on suicide watch “for his own safety” following a psychological assessment.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 3, 2022
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.
