watchdog en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈwɒt͡ʃˌdɒɡ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈwɑːt͡ʃˌdɑːɡ/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Old English wæċċan Middle English wacchen English watch Old English [Term?]? Proto-Germanic *-gô Proto-West Germanic *-gō Old English -ga Old English dogga Middle English dogge English dog English watchdog From watch + dog.
Meanings
- A guard dog.
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(figuratively) An individual or group that monitors the activities of another entity (such as an individual, corporation, non-profit group, or governmental organization) on behalf of the public to ensure that entity does not behave illegally or unethically.
The UK’s data watchdog is seeking clarification from Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta about parental controls on its popular virtual reality headset, as campaigners warned that it could breach an online children’s safety code.
2022 January 9, Dan Milmo, “UK data watchdog seeks talks with Meta over child protection concerns”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 31 Mar 2022:Governments must "outline how they will reassure passengers that it will be as safe as possible to travel by public transport", according to industry watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch.
2020 May 20, “Network News: Watchdogs say clear guidance needed to reassure passengers”, in Rail, page 9:Since 2020, independent watchdogs have criticized the lack of protocol that allowed the FBI to successfully prebunk the true Post story.
2024 October 30, “ELECTION INTERFERENCE: HOW THE FBI “PREBUNKED” A TRUE STORY ABOUT THE BIDEN FAMILY’S CORRUPTION IN ADVANCE OF THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION”, in United States House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, archived from the original on 20 Feb 2025, page 990:
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(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of watchdog timer.
alt of watchdog timer
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| watchdogs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
watchdog timer · Moscow Watchdog
Relateds
Translations (21)
cmn 監管機構 /监管机构 (individual or group that monitors) · ro organism de control (individual or group that monitors) · sv kontrollorgan (individual or group that monitors) · ja 監視委員会 (individual or group that monitors) · sv vakthund (individual or group that monitors) · nl waakhond (individual or group that monitors) · it comitato di controllo (individual or group that monitors) · fi vahtikoira (individual or group that monitors) · bg пазител (individual or group that monitors) · it supervisore (individual or group that monitors) · sv tillsyningsman (individual or group that monitors) · ro arbitru (individual or group that monitors) · cmn 監視人 /监视人 (individual or group that monitors) · sv väktare (individual or group that monitors) · sv tillsynsorgan (individual or group that monitors) · ru контролёр (individual or group that monitors) · ja 監視人 (individual or group that monitors) · sv övervakningsorgan (individual or group that monitors) · sv tillsynsman (individual or group that monitors) · ja 監視者 (individual or group that monitors) · pt vigilância (individual or group that monitors)