watchman

/ˈwɒtʃmən/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɑtʃmən] /ˈwɑːtʃmən/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɑtʃmən] /ˈwäch-mən How to pronounce watchman (audio) ˈwȯch-/ (ame, mw)

watchman — noun

  • watchmansingular
  • watchmenplural

1. a person paid to watch over a building or area and make sure no one enters witho

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person paid to watch over a building or area and make sure no one enters without permission

例句

The night watchman at the docks spotted a small boat drifting near the pier.

collocation: night watchman

Yara thanked the watchman who helped her find the right office building.

同義詞
  • security guard

    the modern, more common term; implies formal training and a wider range of settings

  • guard

    broader term covering prisons, military, and private settings, not only buildings

  • night watchman

    specifically a watchman who works the night shift

  • custodian

    more focused on cleaning and maintenance than on security

用法筆記

Watchman is now somewhat old-fashioned in everyday speech; security guard is the more common modern term for the same role.

常見錯誤

❌The watchman at the zoo looked at the animals.
✅The watchman at the zoo checked all the locks before midnight.
💡A watchman is a guard employed to protect a place, not simply someone who watches things.