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

Derived Forms

• surˈveillant, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• counter·sur·veillance noun

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

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 )

Example Sentences

Surveillance videos show the suspect assaulting women in parking lots in downtown and in Lincoln Heights.

From Los Angeles Times

Watching from a perch in the surveillance age, her reticence is understandable.

From Salon

Unfortunately, she said, “our surveillance efforts for trying to find outbreaks on farms, while getting better, are still not even close to what we need to know about these outbreaks.”

From Los Angeles Times

Over the past year, Breed has tacked right on those issues, successfully pushing two ballot measures that bolstered police surveillance powers and required drug screening and treatment for people receiving county welfare benefits who are suspected of illicit drug use.

From Los Angeles Times

“There are longstanding surveillance systems in place that help implement laws at brick-and-mortar stores, but we do not have a system in place for online retailers,” Leas said, adding, “The results of this study highlight the need for greater oversight and enforcement of online tobacco retailers.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• care
• control
• examination
• inspection
• scrutiny
• supervision
• vigilance
• wiretap