watchdog

1 of 2

noun

watch·​dog ˈwäch-ˌdȯg How to pronounce watchdog (audio)
ˈwȯch-
Synonyms of watchdognext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The watchdog did not say which country launched the projectile at Bushehr. Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026 The departures, which include board President Genethia Hudley Hayes, come after the agency’s top watchdog, Independent Assessor Tyler Izen, retired this month. Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026 In China, the antitrust watchdog has been examining the company’s policies in taking a cut on in-app spending and barring external payment services and stores, Bloomberg News reported last year. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026 The Minnesota Department of Human Services didn't leverage its existing authority to investigate reports of kickbacks in the autism treatment program vulnerable to fraud, a new watchdog report determined. Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for watchdog

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of watchdog was in 1612

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Watchdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watchdog. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on watchdog

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