Surveillance

Monitoring behavior for security, control, or intelligence.

The act of monitoring behavior, activities, or other changing information, typically for the purpose of maintaining security, control, or gathering intelligence.

Pronunciation

/sərˈveɪləns/

Etymology

From French surveillance, from surveiller (to watch over), from sur- (over) + veiller (to watch).

Explain Like I’m 5

Surveillance is like watching to make sure everything is safe and people are following the rules, like security cameras in a store or checking social media for suspicious activity.

Fun Facts

The word 'surveillance' comes from the French words 'sur' (on) and 'veiller' (to watch)
Early forms of surveillance included town criers and patrols
Modern surveillance includes facial recognition technology

FAQ

What is surveillance? It involves observing people or activities
Why is it used? It's used for security, control, and gathering information
Who uses surveillance? Governments, businesses, and individuals use it

Synonyms — Similar or Related Terms

monitoring observation oversight

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

observation monitoring

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

video surveillance eavesdropping wiretapping

Meronyms — Parts or Components

cameras microphones sensors

Holonyms — Wholes or Groups

security system intelligence gathering

Built by Tim Jones