surveillance
suh-VAY-luhns
Surveillance (noun) means Close, ongoing observation of a person, group, or place, especially to gather information or watch for wrongdoing. Example: “The suspect was placed under police surveillance.”
noun
1
Close, ongoing observation of a person, group, or place, especially to gather information or watch for wrongdoing.
"The suspect was placed under police surveillance."
"The shop uses camera surveillance to deter shoplifting."
"Wildlife experts kept the nesting site under constant surveillance throughout the spring."
"The surveillance program includes at least 480 LPRs that scan and record about 16.2 million vehicles per week and stores that data for two years, he wrote in the court filing."
— Chris Eberhart, NY police used AI to track drivers on highways as attorney questions legality (2023)
How to use surveillance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishClose, continuous watching, often for security or investigative purposes.
Common pairings
under surveillance
surveillance camera
surveillance footage
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Word forms
- Plural
- surveillances
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The suspect was placed under police _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from French surveillance, from surveiller ("to watch over"), from sur- ("over") + veiller ("to watch"), from Latin vigilare ("to be watchful") — the same root as "vigilant".
Related words
Rhymes for surveillance
See all rhymes for surveillance →Frequently asked questions
What does “surveillance” mean?
The word “surveillance” means close, ongoing observation of a person, group, or place, especially to gather information or watch for wrongdoing. In plain terms, close, continuous watching, often for security or investigative purposes.
How do you pronounce “surveillance”?
“Surveillance” is pronounced suh-VAY-luhns (/sɚˈveɪ.ləns/ in IPA).
How do you use “surveillance” in a sentence?
Here is “surveillance” used in a sentence: “The suspect was placed under police surveillance.”
What part of speech is “surveillance”?
“Surveillance” is a noun.
Where does the word “surveillance” come from?
The word “surveillance” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French surveillance, from surveiller ("to watch over"), from sur- ("over") + veiller ("to watch"), from Latin vigilare ("to be watchful") — the same root as "vigilant".
Is “surveillance” a common word?
“Surveillance” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between "surveillance" and "monitoring"?
"Surveillance" implies close, often covert observation of people or places to detect wrongdoing or gather information, while "monitoring" is broader and more neutral, covering the routine tracking of systems, data, or conditions. All surveillance is monitoring, but not all monitoring is surveillance.
What is the difference between "surveillance" and "reconnaissance"?
"Surveillance" is sustained, ongoing watching of a target over time, whereas "reconnaissance" is a shorter, exploratory survey carried out to gather information before an operation. Surveillance is continuous; reconnaissance is a preliminary scouting step.
Is "surveillance" a formal word?
"Surveillance" is a formal term common in law enforcement, security, and technology contexts. Everyday alternatives include "watching" or "keeping an eye on" someone or something.
What are common collocations with "surveillance"?
Common phrases include "under surveillance," "surveillance camera," "mass surveillance," and "surveillance footage." These pairings appear often in security, policing, and privacy discussions.
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