electronic surveillance

American  

noun

1. surveillance or the gathering of information by surreptitious use of electronic devices, as in crime detection or espionage.

---

electronic surveillance British  

noun

1. the use of such electronic devices as television monitors, video cameras, etc, to prevent burglary, shop lifting, break-ins, etc

2. monitoring events, conversations, etc, at a distance by electronic means, esp by such covert means as wiretapping or bugging

---

Etymology

Origin of electronic surveillance

First recorded in 1970–75

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

electronic surveillance

The wall will be supplemented by electronic surveillance and other devices, which would be installed by "about July, maybe at the latest August 2028," Scott said.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

It says the government must get an order authorizing electronic surveillance through the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court under Title 1 or “a warrant issued pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure by a court.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026

They couldn’t understand or anticipate that there would be things like cellphones and electronic surveillance.

From Salon ● Jan. 23, 2026

A National Guardsman at an outpost scanned the terrain with electronic surveillance cameras.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2024

But Gordievsky was a marked man, trailed by counterintelligence teams and under constant electronic surveillance.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---