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 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
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
One ethics watchdog told me the low rents could constitute illegal gifts.
From Salon • May 29, 2026
He quit his normal watchdog duties—he’d always been a good barker if somebody drove up—and took to sitting in the yard, staring at the house.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
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.
