watchdog

1 of 2

noun

watch·​dog ˈwäch-ˌdȯg 

ˈwȯch-

1

: a dog kept to guard property

2

: one that guards against loss, waste, theft, or undesirable practices

watchdog

2 of 2

verb

watchdogged; watchdogging; watchdogs

transitive verb

: to act as a watchdog for

Examples of watchdog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But an incentive program crafted by community solar companies won the backing of the Utility Reform Network, an influential consumer watchdog group that had campaigned to cut rooftop solar incentives. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024

Leapfrog, a watchdog nonprofit that reports on quality and safety in hospitals, didn’t give grades to specialty hospitals, such as children hospitals, surgical centers, critical access hospitals and veteran hospitals. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1902, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

watchdog

noun

watch·​dog

ˈwäch-ˌdȯg,

ˈwȯch-

1

: a dog kept to guard property

2

: one that guards against loss, waste, theft, or dishonesty