Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for watchman

watchman

[ woch-muhn ]

noun

, plural watch·men.
  1. a person who keeps guard over a building at night, to protect it from fire, vandals, or thieves.
  2. (formerly) a person who guards or patrols the streets at night.


watchman

/ ˈwɒtʃmən /

noun

  1. a person employed to guard buildings or property
  2. (formerly) a man employed to patrol or guard the streets at night


Discover More

Other Words From

  • watchman·ly adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of watchman1

late Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; watch, man

Discover More

Example Sentences

Luckily, watchmen provided by the Committee were stationed outside, with shotguns, ready to protect them from trouble if necessary.

From Time

Kocurek now works 12-hour shifts as a night watchman guarding the entrance to a drilling patch.

His usual trick: bribing the night watchman to let him into the bank.

My friends and I went there once or twice a week and waited for the watchman to chase us out.

And people—reportedly less than 20, but still—actually showed up to meet the killer neighborhood watchman and get his autograph!

The Wolf and the Watchman: A Father, a Son, and the CIA by Scott C. Johnson, W.W. Norton & Co.

W was a Watchman, and guarded the door; X was expensive, and so became poor.

A brilliant blaze of lightning showed him the unmistakable figure of the Black Hood bending over the body of Joseph, the watchman.

The prophet eats the book, and receives further instructions: the office of a watchman.

When I saw the knife, I planned to withdraw it from the watchman's throat, to use it as possible evidence.

The duty of the watchman appointed by God: the justice of God's ways: his judgments upon the Jews.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


watchmakerwatch meeting