watchdog

//ˈwɒtʃ.dɒɡ//
B2Frequency Level 11Neutral
Visual representation of watchdog

Noun

watchdogSingular
watchdogsPlural
1

A dog kept to guard a building or property against intruders.

We have a watchdog to protect our house at night.

2

A person or organization that monitors the practices of companies or governments to ensure they are acting legally and ethically.

The consumer watchdog issued a warning about the company's misleading advertisements.

Verb

1

To act as a watchdog; to monitor or oversee something for potential problems or wrongdoing.

The committee watchdogs government spending to prevent waste.