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watchdog

[ woch-dawg, -dog ]
/ ˈwɒtʃˌdɔg, -ˌdɒg /
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noun
a dog kept to guard property.
a watchful guardian: a self-appointed watchdog of the public morals.
adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of a watchdog.
organized or functioning as a watchful guardian, especially against illegal or unethical conduct: a watchdog group in the legislature.
verb (used with object), watch·dogged, watch·dog·ging.
to watch carefully, especially so as to detect illegal or unethical conduct.
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Origin of watchdog

First recorded in 1600–10; watch + dog
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use watchdog in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for watchdog

watchdog
/ (ˈwɒtʃˌdɒɡ) /

noun
a dog kept to guard property
  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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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