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

Not like oil Cristina Burelli, founder of the environmental watchdog SOS Orinoco, said the policy shift risks creating a dangerous mismatch between legal authorization and realities on the ground, where mining operations are largely controlled by armed actors. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026

Ian King Need to know Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy cleared by UK drug price watchdog for heart disease. —Ian King, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026

The Brazilian government hopes to move forward with the railway once the Supreme Court rules on the legality of changing a national park’s borders to allow construction and a congressional watchdog approves the plans. —ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, told PBS in an interview published Friday that the material is believed to be in Isfahan and could possibly be moved. —Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 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