Watergate

1 of 2

noun (1)

Wa·​ter·​gate ˈwȯ-tər-ˌgāt 

ˈwä-

: a scandal usually involving abuses of office, skulduggery, and a cover-up

water gate

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: a gate (as of a building) giving access to a body of water

2

: floodgate

Examples of Watergate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There are pagodas and stupas, ancient wells, ceramic kilns, walls and water gates, and canals and lakes. —Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian, 21 Nov. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Watergate, apartment and office complex in Washington, D.C.; from the scandal following the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters there in 1972

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1973, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1