spyware
Americannoun
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Computers. software that is installed surreptitiously and gathers information about an internet user's browsing habits, intercepts the user's personal data, etc., transmitting this information to a third party.
a parent's use of spyware to monitor a child's online activities.
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tools that are used to conduct espionage.
sophisticated spyware that rivals that of the CIA.
noun
Etymology
Origin of spyware
Vocabulary lists containing spyware
Computer Science and Technology - Middle School
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Computer Science and Technology - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The media consortium first alleged in 2021 extensive Moroccan use of the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware, including against French officials.
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
Although his movie urged us against this 24/7 spyware future, we have since embraced the convenience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
He had searched these topics repeatedly and had 10 images of spyware, 44 of masks, 186 of the chest and heart and 261 knives.
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
Last year, DHS reactivated a $2 million contract with the U.S. subsidiary of Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions, which makes Graphite, a hacking tool that can infiltrate encrypted messaging apps such as Signal and WhatsApp.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
Many of the services were bloated with adware and spyware.
From The Public Domain Enclosing the Commons of the Mind by James Boyle
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
