WordGarden.iowatchman
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /wˈɒtʃmən/
US
- /ˈwɑtʃmən/
Meanings
Noun
a man employed to guard property or keep watch over a place
a guard or lookout posted to watch for danger or approaching people
Beyond the definition
A watchman is a person whose job is to guard a place, especially at night. You can think of an old-style security guard walking around a building, a street, or a gate to make sure everything is safe. The word is more common in historical writing and stories than in everyday modern speech, where people usually say "security guard" or simply "guard."
The idea behind the word is simple: this person stays alert, watches for trouble, and helps protect people or property. You might read about a watchman guarding city walls, a warehouse, or a shop after dark.
The word "watchman" usually refers to a man whose duty is to guard a place or keep watch for danger, often at night. In the past, watchmen were common in towns, streets, factories, shops, and other places that needed protection after dark. They might walk around the area, check that all was well, and raise an alarm if they noticed trouble. In many older texts, a watchman is an important but ordinary figure: someone trusted to stay awake, pay attention, and protect people or property.
Today, the word often sounds old-fashioned, and modern English more often uses terms like "security guard" or "guard." Even so, "watchman" still appears in historical writing, literature, and formal or poetic language. It keeps a strong sense of duty, alertness, and care.
The word can also be used in a broader or figurative way for someone who watches over others or warns of danger, but that is less common than the basic literal meaning. Most of the time, if you see "watchman," it means a person assigned to stand guard and keep a place safe.
Examples
- 1
Night guard
The hotel’s night watchman sat by the front entrance until dawn.
- Phrasenight watchman
a person paid to guard a place at night
- 2
Security response
When the back window was broken, the watchman called the police at once.
- 3
Historical city
In the old city, a watchman used to walk the streets after dark with a lantern.
See also
Similar
- guard
- security guard
- security officer
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- night watchman
- watchman's rounds
- watchman on duty
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- watchmannoun
Forms
- watchmenpluralnoun