surveillance

noun

sur·​veil·​lance sər-ˈvā-lən(t)s How to pronounce surveillance (audio)
also
-ˈvāl-yən(t)s How to pronounce surveillance (audio)
or
-ˈvā-ən(t)s How to pronounce surveillance (audio)
Synonyms of surveillance
: close watch kept over someone or something (as by a detective)
also : supervision see also immune surveillance

Synonyms of surveillance

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hours later, surveillance video taken from a parking lot shows a third man parking the suspect vehicle, a gray Acura MDX SUV, and walking away. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 As artificial intelligence grows, proponents argue that so will the risk of government surveillance. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 The records led him to an In-N-Out Burger after the shooting, where surveillance video showed Grant, Wilson, and Jones in the parking lot and Jones, Lindsey, and Hester entering the restaurant. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026 Risam takes readers back to the dawn of data, charting the course of human recordkeeping from Mesopotamian farming to present-day surveillance technology. — Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surveillance

Word History

Etymology

French, from surveiller to watch over, from sur- + veiller to watch, from Old French veillier, from Latin vigilare, from vigil watchful — more at vigil

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of surveillance was in 1802

Phrases Containing surveillance

Browse Nearby Words

surveil
surveillance
surveillant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surveillance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surveillance. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

surveillance

noun
sur·​veil·​lance sər-ˈvā-lən(t)s How to pronounce surveillance (audio)
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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