watchdog

1 of 2

noun

watch·​dog ˈwäch-ˌdȯg How to pronounce watchdog (audio)
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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The accusations came at a time when the youth lockup was so crowded that a state watchdog labeled the facility as dangerous to children, some of whom had to sleep on mats, sometimes in rooms that had no toilet access. John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2023 Banks should be on alert for Russian oligarchs attempting to circumvent U.S. sanctions by investing in commercial real estate, a U.S. Treasury Department watchdog said. Dylan Tokar, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2023 About 20,000 protesters have been detained since the war began, according to OVD Info, a human rights watchdog. Nanna Heitmann, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2023 This week, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog filed a complaint with federal regulators alleging Santos had funneled money from unknown sources into his campaign in order to help get elected. Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2023 The subcommittee will supposedly act as a watchdog for ongoing criminal investigations, but an earlier version of the proposal limited the probe’s scope to the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice. Tori Otten, The New Republic, 10 Jan. 2023 High-dollar donations to an inaugural committee often run the risk of raising red flags, said Geoff Foster, the executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, a good-government watchdog. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Jan. 2023 The top brass within the Los Angeles County Probation Department hastily moved children out of Central Juvenile Hall not for reasons of safety but to avoid political embarrassment, according to a report released Friday from a county watchdog. Rebecca Ellisstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2022 Just days after retaking power, the Taliban reinstated the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice as a public morality watchdog tasked with enforcing the Taliban’s version of Islamic law. Sophie Tanno, CNN, 23 Dec. 2022
Verb
That same measure also contained provisions to effectively gut the Office of Congressional Ethics, the independent ethics watchdog on Capitol Hill that was preparing to investigate members who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Eric Cortellessa, Time, 3 Jan. 2023 Shioso said the case is being handled by police watchdog the Independent Policing Oversight Authority. Azaz Syed, CNN, 9 Nov. 2022 Human rights watchdog OVD-Info said at least 1,252 people from 38 cities were arrested. Harold Maass, The Week, 22 Sep. 2022 Some watchdog nonprofit organizations even go as far as saying people should avoid them at all costs. Emily Rekstis, Allure, 27 July 2022 The delisting threat, targeted at Chinese audit firms, could also affect Russian ones if the authorities there won’t cooperate with the U.S. audit watchdog the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Jean Eaglesham, WSJ, 7 Mar. 2022 According to a recent report by the environmental and human rights watchdog Global Witness, Brazil — which includes a large part of the Amazon — was among the deadliest countries for environmental defenders, with 20 activists killed in 2020 alone. Lynsey Addario, CNN, 24 Dec. 2021 To watchdog groups, Clark has been a person of interest for months. Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 14 Oct. 2021 Often, critics of the system contend, those officers end up policing in smaller jurisdictions, which may lack the resources to watchdog their conduct. Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'watchdog.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Dictionary Entries Near watchdog

Cite this Entry

“Watchdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watchdog. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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