noun
watchman
WOCH-muhn
Watchman (noun) means a person employed to guard a building or area, especially at night. Example: “The night watchman made his rounds every hour.”
noun
1
A person employed to guard a building or area, especially at night.
"In 1972, a night watchman patrolling a hotel-office complex noticed that the basement garage door had been taped open and, attributing this to the carelessness of a maintenance worker earlier that day, peeled the tape off."
— Laura Miller, Imagine (2004)
"Watchmen are stationed continuously at each end of the bridge, and the main spans are patrolled twice during the night."
— H. A. Vallance, On Foot Across the Forth Bridge (1950)
"The night watchman made his rounds every hour."
How to use watchman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person whose job is to guard a place, especially overnight.
Common pairings
night watchman
the old watchman
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Word forms
- Plural
- watchmen
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The night _____ made his rounds every hour.
Etymology
From Middle English waccheman, formed from watch plus man.
Synonyms
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watcher
security guard
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “watchman” mean?
The word “watchman” means a person employed to guard a building or area, especially at night. In plain terms, a person whose job is to guard a place, especially overnight.
How do you pronounce “watchman”?
“Watchman” is pronounced WOCH-muhn (/ˈwɒtʃmən/ in IPA).
How do you use “watchman” in a sentence?
Here is “watchman” used in a sentence: “The night watchman made his rounds every hour.”
What part of speech is “watchman”?
“Watchman” is a noun.
Where does the word “watchman” come from?
The word “watchman” comes from Middle English. From Middle English waccheman, formed from watch plus man.
