wiretap

[wahyuh r-tap]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR wiretap ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an act or instance of tapping telephone or telegraph wires for evidence or other information.

verb (used with object), wire·tapped, wire·tap·ping.

to obtain (information, evidence, etc.) by tapping telephone or telegraph wires: to wiretap conversations.

to listen in on by means of a wiretap: to wiretap a telephone; to wiretap a conversation.

verb (used without object), wire·tapped, wire·tap·ping.

to tap telephone or telegraph wires for evidence, information, etc.

adjective

pertaining to or obtained by wiretap.

Origin of wiretap

First recorded in 1950–55; back formation from wiretapper

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for wiretapping

surveillance, espionage, search, inspect, consider, explore, study, probe, question, scrutinize, interrogate, examine, review, poke, wiretap, snoop, overhear, observing, prying, bugging

Examples from the Web for wiretapping

Contemporary Examples of wiretapping

All (presumably) without the wiretapping of political opponents.
‘Breaking Bad’ in the White House: Bryan Cranston as LBJ in 'All the Way'
David Freedlander
March 7, 2014
Maybe this isn't fatal; I'm certainly no expert on wiretapping.
The McConnell Wiretapper Speaks
Megan McArdle
May 31, 2013
“They needed and wanted his cooperation in their [federal RICO and wiretapping] investigation,” he wrote.
Judge Denies Bail Request by Anthony Pellicano, Former Sleuth to the Stars
Christine Pelisek
August 14, 2012
The verdict in the Civil War trial is still pending, but the wiretapping conviction makes that case almost redundant.
Baltasar Garzón, Spain’s Legal Crusader, Silenced
Mike Elkin
February 9, 2012
He was charged with bribery and attempted conspiracy of wiretapping and mail fraud.
10 Worst Political Scandals
Mark McKinnon
October 30, 2009

British Dictionary definitions for wiretapping

wiretap

verb -taps, -tapping or -tapped

to make a connection to a telegraph or telephone wire in order to obtain information secretly

Derived Formswiretapper, nounwiretapping, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012