watchdog
Americannoun
-
watchdogs
plural
-
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)
noun
-
a dog kept to guard property
-
-
a person or group of persons that acts as a protector or guardian against inefficiency, illegal practices, etc
-
( as modifier )
a watchdog committee
-
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was receiving up to £2,000 per month for sub-letting three cottages at his former home at Royal Lodge, when he didn't have to pay any rent himself, according to the public spending watchdog.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
It comes a week after the UK's equality watchdog said employees should legally be able to find out what their colleagues are earning.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
XRG, of the United Arab Emirates, needs to get approval for the Shell deal from Australia’s foreign-investment watchdog.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
Google's AI Overview regurgitated the allegation when it was prompted by the disinformation watchdog NewsGuard.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
“Well,” continued the watchdog impatiently, “since you got here by not thinking, it seems reasonable to expect that, in order to get out, you must start thinking.”
From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
Luna has said the county’s attorneys maintain that the unredacted records can’t be released until it completes a “meet and confer” process with the Sheriff’s Department union, a claim that watchdogs have disputed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
If Paxton wins, an incomplete picture of his finances could prevent watchdogs from evaluating his conflicts of interest as a senator, Holman and others said.
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
Ethics watchdogs expressed dismay this week over the deals.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
Government watchdogs have alleged that some defense contractors have overcharged the military for products and parts, and Republican and Democratic lawmakers have called for stricter oversight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
Several of the neighbors had watchdogs, which barked at the slightest disturbance; surely, these animals would signal if the intruders returned.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
John Niles, a transportation consultant who has watchdogged the design since 2006, has come to believe it will work.
From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2017
Mike Terry, the event’s organizer and emcee, said his goal was to get more citizens engaged in watchdogging local elections and government.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 2, 2022
A series of corruption scandals has rocked City Hall, and each candidate says they are the best choice to provide better oversight and watchdogging.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2022
But Bonneville Power also faces more pressure - from those who pay the bills - to control and step up watchdogging of spending.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 23, 2019
Megadonors interested in watchdogging the media have instead gravitated to more cautious groups like Mr. Bozell’s Media Research Center.
From New York Times ● Dec. 7, 2017
"I undertake watchdogging in all its branches," said Clo.
From The Lion's Mouse by A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
