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surveillance
noun
sur·veil·lance
sər-ˈvā-lən(t)s
also
-ˈvāl-yən(t)s or
-ˈvā-ən(t)s
: close watch kept over someone or something (as by a detective)
also
: supervision see also immune surveillance
Synonyms
Examples of surveillance in a Sentence
government surveillance of suspected terrorists
The bank robbery was recorded by surveillance video cameras.
Recent Examples on the Web
Shortly after the burglary, around 5:41 a.m., investigators with East Haven police set up surveillance to execute a search warrant at 125 Pleasant St. in New Britain.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2025
Young people explained they had been socialized to anticipate workplace surveillance—one structured not by current employee monitoring, but instead by the acts of potential—or imagined—surveillance.
—
Brooke Erin Duffy, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
The prosecution presented surveillance video showing Mr. Mayers holding a gun before the shooting in support of its claim.
—
Jonathan Abrams, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Much of the evidence outlined in the FBI complaint is from cellphone data, surveillance video and license-plate readers that allegedly place the defendants in the vicinity of the burglaries.
—
Curt Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for surveillance 
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Word History
Phrases Containing surveillance
Dictionary Entries Near surveillance
Cite this Entry
“Surveillance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surveillance. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
surveillance
noun
sur·veil·lance
sər-ˈvā-lən(t)s
also -ˈvāl-yən(t)s,
or -ˈvā-ən(t)s
: close watch
under surveillance
Medical Definition
surveillance
noun
sur·veil·lance
sər-ˈvā-lən(t)s also -ˈvāl-yən(t)s or -ˈvā-ən(t)s
: close and continuous observation or testing
serological surveillance
see immune surveillance
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