surveillance

noun

: close watch kept over someone or something (as by a detective)

Examples of surveillance in a Sentence

government surveillance of suspected terrorists The bank robbery was recorded by surveillance video cameras.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Anyone with video surveillance footage of the incident should call the CHP’s South Sacramento office at 916-897-5600 and ask for Officer Lloyd. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 14 Jan. 2025 Those flagged by a machine as risky would be sorted into separate lines and subjected to a variety of measures ranging from questioning to physical searches and even possible surveillance by intelligence agencies. Caitlin Chandler, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2025 Troopers were able to access surveillance footage from the time of the incident. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2025 The former president, along with Nauta and De Oliveira, pleaded not guilty in a superseding indictment to allegedly attempting to delete surveillance footage at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for surveillance 

Word History

Etymology

French, from surveiller to watch over, from sur- + veiller to watch, from Old French veillier, from Latin vigilare, from vigil watchful — more at vigil

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of surveillance was in 1802

Dictionary Entries Near surveillance

Cite this Entry

“Surveillance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surveillance. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

surveillance

noun
sur·​veil·​lance sər-ˈvā-lən(t)s How to pronounce surveillance (audio)
 also  -ˈvāl-yən(t)s,
 or  -ˈvā-ən(t)s
: close watch
under surveillance

Medical Definition

surveillance

noun
sur·​veil·​lance
sər-ˈvā-lən(t)s also -ˈvāl-yən(t)s or -ˈvā-ən(t)s
: close and continuous observation or testing
serological surveillance
see immune surveillance

More from Merriam-Webster on surveillance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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