Watergate is used to refer to the events that surrounded the break-in at the Watergate building in Washington,D.C., during the U.S. presidential election campaign of 1972, and the impeachment and resignation of President Richard Nixon as a result of his role in the incident.
...the Watergate scandal.
Watergate in British English
(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
See also -gate
Watergate in American English
(ˈwɔtərˌgeɪt)
US
noun
a scandal that involves officials violating public trust through subterfuge, bribery, burglary, and other abuses of power in order to maintain their positions of authority
Word origin
after Watergate, building complex in Washington, D.C., housing Democratic Party headquarters, burglarized(June, 1972) under direction of government officials
Examples of 'Watergate' in a sentence
Watergate
Instantly small feet scampered into the Watergate from the terrace.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A COUNTESS ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE MYSTERY (2002)
The tide swept most of the boxes ashore along the beach near York Watergate.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A COUNTESS ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE MYSTERY (2002)
She was wearing the green cloak that Sarah usually wore, and waiting in the place we had appointed, on the terrace near the Watergate.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A COUNTESS ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE MYSTERY (2002)
He drove up to Washington Circle and made a left for the short run down to Senator Chapman's apartment at the Watergate.