watchman
Americannoun
plural
watchmen-
a person who keeps guard over a building at night, to protect it from fire, vandals, or thieves.
-
(formerly) a person who guards or patrols the streets at night.
noun
-
a person employed to guard buildings or property
-
(formerly) a man employed to patrol or guard the streets at night
Other Word Forms
- watchmanly adjective
Etymology
Origin of watchman
late Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; watch, man
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.
Reyne took over as night watchman, with his tent on the asphalt in the parking lot behind.
From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026
At the time of the record destruction, which was revealed by a night watchman who saw it happening and saved some documents, UBS was under scrutiny for its wartime activities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026
He claimed the duo pushed past the night watchman, collected the artwork and drove to a block of flats in the Isle of Dogs where Mr Love unloaded the Banksy.
From BBC • Sep. 15, 2025
Ms. Nechai was waiting at the launching point for boats as her husband paddled out to rescue a watchman who was stranded at the site.
From New York Times • Jun. 7, 2023
Johnny had a friend named Burt who was night watchman at the corner bank.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
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.
