surveillance

American  

[ser-vey-luhns, -veyl-yuhns] / sərˈveɪ ləns, -ˈveɪl yəns /

noun

1. a watch kept over a person, group, etc., especially over a suspect, prisoner, or the like.

   The suspects were under police surveillance.

2. continuous observation of a place, person, group, or ongoing activity in order to gather information.

   video cameras used for covert surveillance.

3. attentive observation, as to oversee and direct someone or something.

   increased surveillance of patients with chronic liver disease.

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surveillance British  

/ sɜːˈveɪləns /

noun

1. close observation or supervision maintained over a person, group, etc, esp one in custody or under suspicion

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Other Word Forms

• countersurveillance noun
• surveillant adjective

Etymology

Origin of surveillance

1790–1800; < French, equivalent to surveill ( er ) to watch over ( sur- sur- ¹ + veiller < Latin vigilāre to watch; vigil ) + -ance -ance

Example Sentences

"The rapid growth in recent years of Iranian state threats is grave: hostile state surveillance activity, 20 disrupted plots, and recent attempted attacks on the Iranian diaspora," he said.

From BBC

A man accused of organising a "shadow policing" operation on behalf of China has denied ordering surveillance of Hong Kong dissidents in the UK.

From BBC

The first shot, so to speak, came in Anthropic’s conflict with the Pentagon after the company refused to have its technology used for fully autonomous killer drone storms and the mass surveillance of Americans.

From Salon

Police have asked neighbours for surveillance footage from the night Guthrie went missing, as well as from other dates in the lead-up to her disappearance.

From BBC

The Anglians are an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance group that push out ahead of other troops to find enemy positions.

From BBC

Related Words

• care
• control
• examination
• inspection
• scrutiny
• supervision
• vigilance
• wiretap