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

Research by Dror Etkes, who runs the settlement watchdog group Kerem Navot, determined the land was privately owned. — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

The show was made in collaboration with Perverted-Justice, an online watchdog group. — Emma Urdangen, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026

By updating the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive to blacklist specific misleading marketing tactics, however, EmpCo could lighten the load for watchdog groups by rendering once-routine declarations off-limits. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

The singer plays Del Harvey, a young decoy who played both boys and girls on the show and how is based on the real person of the same name who was a volunteer for the internet watchdog group Perverted Justice. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 25 Sep. 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