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 outlets, including The Texas Tribune, The Texas Observer and The Washington Post, along with a nonpartisan watchdog group Campaign for Accountability, challenged the Paxtons' request to seal the records (neither CBS News nor CBS Texas were a party to the court proceedings). S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025 The typical size of the New York City mayoral staff — commissioners, communications, operations and community affairs — is about 1,100, according Ana Champeny, vice president of research at the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonprofit finance watchdog. Georgia Hall, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025 The commission was set up in 1975 by Congress as an independent safety watchdog, said Allison Macfarlane, the former NRC chair. Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025 In the 1990s, Gannett’s policies favoring shorter stories and more feature news reduced the volume of enterprise and watchdog reporting (reflected in a 1990 banner front-page headline reporting a local television anchor moving to another channel). Idaho Statesman, 16 Dec. 2025 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 22 Dec. 2025.

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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