WATCHDOG

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does watchdog mean? 

• WATCHDOG (noun)
  The noun WATCHDOG has 2 senses:

1. a guardian or defender against theft or illegal practices or waste

2. a dog trained to guard property

  Familiarity information: WATCHDOG used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WATCHDOG (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A guardian or defender against theft or illegal practices or waste

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Context example:

she is the global watchdog for human rights abuses

Hypernyms ("watchdog" is a kind of...):

defender; guardian; protector; shielder (a person who cares for persons or property)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A dog trained to guard property

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

guard dog; watchdog

Hypernyms ("watchdog" is a kind of...):

working dog (any of several breeds of usually large powerful dogs bred to work as draft animals and guard and guide dogs)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "watchdog"):

kuvasz (long-established Hungarian breed of tall light-footed but sturdy white dog; used also as a hunting dog)

attack dog (a watchdog trained to attack on command)

housedog (a dog trained to guard a house)

schipperke (breed of small stocky black dogs originally used as watchdogs on boats in the Netherlands and Belgium)

pinscher (any of three breeds of dogs whose ears and tail are usually cropped)

 Context examples 

The EPA is the US Government's watchdog agency responsible for controlling the pollution of air and water, pesticides, radiation hazards and noise pollution.

(Environmental Protection Agency, NCI Thesaurus)