neighborhood watch
noun
: an organization of neighbors who pay special attention to each other's houses in order to prevent crime
—often used before another noun
a neighborhood watch group/program
Examples of neighborhood watch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For some, routine activities have taken on a new purpose, with neighbors turning nightly dog walks into informal neighborhood watch patrols.
—
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Because of this, their usual nightly troupe of dog walkers turned into a neighborhood watch party.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
In 2012, George Zimmerman, the Florida neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
In this supernatural thriller, you’re transported back to the 1980’s and 90’s of Charleston, South Carolina, where a book club turns into a neighborhood watch as a newcomer to the city might be a blood-sucking demon.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
In recent months, neighborhood watch groups adopted warning systems similar to those used in other cities targeted by immigration enforcement, relying on whistles and car horns to alert others.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
Safe and Sound offers a program called Block Watch, where residents can sign up to meet their neighbors and act as a neighborhood watch.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 19 Dec. 2025
The Black Lives Matter movement first emerged in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida.
—Sean Murphy, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
Sacramento residents rushed to buy handguns, rifles and shotguns and set up neighborhood watch groups to stand guard at night.
—Sam Stanton, Sacbee.com, 18 Nov. 2025
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Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Because of this, their usual nightly troupe of dog walkers turned into a neighborhood watch party.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
In 2012, George Zimmerman, the Florida neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
In this supernatural thriller, you’re transported back to the 1980’s and 90’s of Charleston, South Carolina, where a book club turns into a neighborhood watch as a newcomer to the city might be a blood-sucking demon.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
In recent months, neighborhood watch groups adopted warning systems similar to those used in other cities targeted by immigration enforcement, relying on whistles and car horns to alert others.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
Safe and Sound offers a program called Block Watch, where residents can sign up to meet their neighbors and act as a neighborhood watch.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 19 Dec. 2025
The Black Lives Matter movement first emerged in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida.
—Sean Murphy, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
Sacramento residents rushed to buy handguns, rifles and shotguns and set up neighborhood watch groups to stand guard at night.
—Sam Stanton, Sacbee.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Neighborhood watch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neighborhood%20watch. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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