Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for surveillance

surveillance

[ ser-vey-luhns, -veyl-yuhns ]

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: electronic surveillance.

    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.



surveillance

/ sɜːˈveɪləns /

noun

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


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • surˈveillant, adjectivenoun

Discover More

Other Words From

  • counter·sur·veillance noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of surveillance1

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

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of surveillance1

C19: from French, from surveiller to watch over, from sur- 1+ veiller to keep watch (from Latin vigilāre; see vigil )

Discover More

Example Sentences

A day later, he had the employee use Tor, web browsing software designed to evade surveillance, to set up a Bitcoin wallet to accept the payment.

From Fortune

Williams learned that in investigating a theft from the store, a facial recognition system had tagged his driver’s license photo as matching the surveillance image.

We’re already starting to see police departments and technology providers move beyond static, retrospective face recognition systems to live video analytics that are integrated with other types of data streams like audio gunshot surveillance systems.

Last week, the city’s Public Safety Committee approved the first draft of an ordinance intended to set new rules around the use and acquisition of surveillance gear.

After years of mounting frustration and criticism over the mission creep of San Diego’s smart streetlights program, the City Council is poised to begin debating the merits of a surveillance ordinance.

This is not about gathering intelligence or expanding surveillance.

These include having his personal guards conduct 24-hour surveillance outside her home, according to affidavits.

A surveillance video shows the radio car driving directly into the park, just feet from the youngster.

Currently, real-time surveillance systems of disease do not exist.

Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, is home to a strategically important base for Pentagon surveillance missions.

Involved in a military plot in 1822, he was sent to Issoudun, under the surveillance of the police.

In suicidal cases it is especially in the morning hours that patients need the closest surveillance.

The announcement sounded like a threat of surveillance, and Coronado's dark cheek turned darker with angry blood.

He was holding the cowman under surveillance, ready to report or shoot on the first proof of his real purpose.

Yourself and Monsieur Giraud are doubtless under surveillance also.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


surveilsurveillance society