watchdog

[woch-dawg, -dog]

noun

1. a dog kept to guard property.

2. a watchful guardian.

   a self-appointed watchdog of the public morals.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a watchdog.

2. organized or functioning as a watchful guardian, especially against illegal or unethical conduct.

   a watchdog group in the legislature.

verb (used with object)

watchdogged, watchdogging 

1. to watch carefully, especially so as to detect illegal or unethical conduct.

watchdog

/ ˈwɒtʃˌdɒɡ /

noun

1. a dog kept to guard property

2. 1. a person or group of persons that acts as a protector or guardian against inefficiency, illegal practices, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a watchdog committee

Word History and Origins

Origin of watchdog¹

First recorded in 1600–10; watch + dog

Example Sentences

Among other challenges to be confronted by whoever is in charge, repeated warnings from financial watchdogs that levels of social spending in Scotland are unsustainable.

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The watchdog has collected ideas on how to ease the regulatory burden on lenders while maintaining financial stability, Routledge said, and proposed changes would be released later in the fall.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On Friday, anti-graft watchdog Transparency International called on the European Parliament, "as the EU's only directly elected body", to set up its own inquiry into the matter.

Read more on Barron's

Britain's competition watchdog on Friday paved the way for tougher regulation to tackle Google's dominance in online search, under new targeted measures focused on technology giants.

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Universities could face sanctions if pro-Palestinian protests descend into harassment and discrimination against Jewish students on campus, the free speech director at the watchdog for higher education in England has said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• curator 
• keeper 
• overseer 
• protector 
• steward 
• superintendent 
• supervisor 
• warden