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

On Monday, a police technology watchdog group sued Park, claiming that her office refused to turn over information related to dozens of Flock devices in her district. — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

Earlier this month, a watchdog investigation found a Brooklyn school bus with six nonverbal children went missing for more than four hours last December, the Daily News was first to report. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026

In some cases, Choudri or others overrode internal objections to approve the expenses, the watchdog found. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026

By the end of 2025, there were 274 fewer full-time ethics officials, according to a recent analysis of federal survey records by the government watchdog group Campaign Legal Center. — Corey G. Johnson, ProPublica, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1902, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for watchdog

• agog
• backlog
• bulldog
• bullfrog
• eclogue
• eggnog
• groundhog
• hedgehog
• leapfrog
• prolog
• sheepdog
• analog

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