# argus

/ˈɑɹɡəs/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/argus
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a person who watches everything very carefully and notices every detail. It comes from a giant in Greek stories who had one hundred eyes.

For teachers: a vigilant or sharp-eyed guardian. Derived from the mythological Greek giant Argus Panoptes, who possessed one hundred eyes, the term describes an observer who is exceptionally alert or difficult to deceive.

## Examples

- The security guard was a real argus during the night shift.
- The editor acted as an argus, catching every small typo and formatting error in the long manuscript.
- In an era of digital surveillance, the state often functions as a modern argus, maintaining a constant and unblinking watch over the private data of its citizens.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a metaphor or in literary contexts; frequently capitalised when referring directly to the mythological figure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.