watchdog

American  

[woch-dawg, -dog] / ˈwɒtʃˌdɔg, -ˌdɒg /

noun

1. a dog kept to guard property.

2. a watchful guardian.

   a self-appointed watchdog of the public morals.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of watchdog

First recorded in 1600–10; watch + dog

Example Sentences

Last year, shortly after the fire happened, Hong Kong's anti-graft watchdog had arrested two directors of the development's structural engineering consultancy Will Power Architects.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

The European Commission, the EU's digital watchdog, said Meta will have to maintain access to competitors until Brussels wraps up its probe.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 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

“You must excuse my gruff conduct,” the watchdog said, after they’d been driving for some time, “but you see it’s traditional for watchdogs to be ferocious...”

From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster

Related Words

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