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Showing results for watchdog. Search instead for watchdogged.
Synonyms

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.

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

    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

Etymology

Origin of watchdog

First recorded in 1600–10; watch + dog

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.

According to 20k, a Hungarian election integrity watchdog tracking the social media activity of political actors during the election, Magyar's posts on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram receive twice the level of engagement of Orbán's.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

France's public health watchdog last year said platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram were detrimental to adolescents, particularly girls, though it was not the sole reason for their declining mental health.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

A couple who were tricked into paying £2,500 for fake flights have had their money reimbursed by their bank following an appeal to the financial watchdog.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

The probes follow concerns that important information, including warnings and precautions for cosmetics not intended for, or tested on, minors, might have been omitted or presented in a misleading manner, the Italian watchdog said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

“I tell Chris he’s too old for a watchdog now. He sleeps like a stone.”

From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen

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.