Watergate

UK: /ˈwɔːtəˌɡeɪt/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Watergate / ˈwɔːtəˌɡeɪt/ noun

1. an incident during the 1972 US presidential campaign, when a group of agents employed by the re-election organization of President Richard Nixon were caught breaking into the Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate building, Washington, DC. The consequent political scandal was exacerbated by attempts to conceal the fact that senior White House officials had approved the burglary, and eventually forced the resignation of President Nixon
2. any similar public scandal, esp involving politicians or a possible cover-up

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

wa′ter gate′, 

1. Civil Engineering a gate for halting or controlling the flow of water in a watercourse;
   floodgate.
2. Civil Engineering a gateway leading to the edge of a body of water, as at a landing.
• Middle English 1350–1400

Wa•ter•gate  (wô′tər gāt′, wot′ər-), n. 

1. American History a White House political scandal that came to light during the 1972 presidential campaign, growing out of a break-in at the Democratic party headquarters at the Watergate apartment-office complex in Washington, D.C., and, after Congressional hearings, culminating in the resignation of President Nixon in 1974.
2. American History any scandal involving abuses of power, corruption, or the like, and attempts to cover them up.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

water gate noun

1. a gate in a canal, leat, etc that can be opened or closed to control the flow of water
2. a gate through which access may be gained to a body of water