watchman

noun

watch·​man ˈwäch-mən How to pronounce watchman (audio)
ˈwȯch-
Synonyms of watchmannext
: a person who keeps watch : guard

Synonyms of watchman

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Examples of watchman in a Sentence

A watchman stopped them at the gate. hired a watchman to patrol the factory at night
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.
Local officials like Allen qualify that the question of using AI surveillance in communities big and small comes down to who’s watching the watchmen. — Noah Daly august 26, Idaho Statesman, 26 Aug. 2026 The civilian watchmen for the ship were taking an unauthorized break during this time and were not at their posts. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026 The Guardian Built From The Same Cloth The institutions that protect our money are nevertheless far from defenseless, since the very capacity for recognizing patterns that empowers the attacker also sharpens the eyes of the watchman. — Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Fiddlers played at the street corners and watchmen called out the hour of the day. — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for watchman

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of watchman was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing watchman

Rhymes for watchman

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Browse Nearby Words

watchmaking
watchman
watchman's clock
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Cite this Entry

“Watchman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watchman. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

watchman

noun
watch·​man -mən How to pronounce watchman (audio)
: a person assigned to watch : guard
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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