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Original · left

Overwatch (military)

A military tactic in which one unit watches and protects another as it moves.

First in use: the 1900s
Duplicate · right

Overwatch (video game)

A team-based hero shooter video game released by Blizzard Entertainment in 2016.

First in use: c. 2016

Overwatch / Overwatch (military) / Overwatch (video game)

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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

A covering-fire tactic became a hero shooter.

Which meaning of Overwatch is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Overwatch (military) came first (the 1900s). Overwatch (video game) arrived in 2016. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Overwatch (military)Overwatch (video game)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1900s

Overwatch (military)

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Duplicate · c. 2016

Overwatch (video game)

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