wiretap

[ wahyuhr-tap ]

noun

1. an act or instance of tapping telephone or telegraph wires for evidence or other information.

verb (used with object)

, wire·tapped, wire·tap·ping.

1. to obtain (information, evidence, etc.) by tapping telephone or telegraph wires:

   to wiretap conversations.

2. to listen in on by means of a wiretap:

   to wiretap a telephone; to wiretap a conversation.

verb (used without object)

, wire·tapped, wire·tap·ping.

1. to tap telephone or telegraph wires for evidence, information, etc.

adjective

1. pertaining to or obtained by wiretap.

wiretap

/ ˈwaɪəˌtæp /

verb

1. to make a connection to a telegraph or telephone wire in order to obtain information secretly

Derived Forms

• ˈwireˌtapping, noun
• ˈwireˌtapper, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wiretap¹

First recorded in 1950–55; back formation from wiretapper

Example Sentences

She details evidence gained through wiretaps, police infiltrators and witnesses – some of which her office has made public.

From BBC

Prosecutors say Johnny Martinez was caught on a wiretap boasting of several murders, but he still has prominent voices calling for his release, including two L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

Prosecutors say Martinez was caught on a wiretap threatening to have someone shot in the head and boasting of several murders.

From Los Angeles Times

According to the memo, dated April 26, Los Angeles police brought a case to prosecutors in January, requesting that they charge Vasquez and Leon with illegally recording a conversation and wiretapping.

From Los Angeles Times

The day Edmundo González was plucked from obscurity and chosen to take on South America’s longest ruling authoritarian leader, technicians were busy making sure his home was not wiretapped.

From New York Times

Related Words

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