Surveillance is the careful watching of someone, especially by an organization such as the police or the army.
He was arrested after being kept under constant surveillance.
Police swooped on the home after a two-week surveillance operation.
Police keep track of the kidnapper using electronic surveillance equipment.
Synonyms: observation, watch, scrutiny, supervision More Synonyms of surveillance
surveillance in British English
(sɜːˈveɪləns)
noun
close observation or supervision maintained over a person, group, etc, esp one in custody or under suspicion
Derived forms
surveillant (surˈveillant)
adjective, noun
Word origin
C19: from French, from surveiller to watch over, from sur-1 + veiller to keep watch (from Latin vigilāre; see vigil)
surveillance in American English
(sərˈveɪləns; occas., sərˈveɪljəns)
noun
1.
a.
close watch kept over someone, esp. a suspect
b.
constant observation of a place or process
2.
supervision or inspection
Word origin
Fr < surveiller, to watch over < sur- (see sur-1) + veiller < L vigilare, to watch, wake1
Examples of 'surveillance' in a sentence
surveillance
Police had begun surveillance to try to bring him to justice.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They were nailed after a huge police surveillance probe.
The Sun (2011)
The vehicle was said to be fitted with advanced surveillance equipment.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There are no maritime surveillance aircraft to police the area either.
The Sun (2016)
Then she found underwear missing from her washing line and police put surveillance cameras on her house.
The Sun (2007)
Suspicion and surveillance of this sort are not limited to stores.
Nightingale, Carl Husemoller On the Edge: A History of Poor Black Children and Their American Dreams (1993)
They were placed under close surveillance and a form of house arrest.
The Sun (2013)
They were nicked after a huge surveillance operation.
The Sun (2010)
MI5 and cops had been keeping him under surveillance.
The Sun (2016)
Now they ask public opinion to protect them from electronic surveillance.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They were kept under surveillance by police and filmed there.
The Sun (2016)
She and her fellow university students face tougher restrictions and closer surveillance.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The route they took to the kennels suggests an extensive surveillance operation.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He was serving a prison sentence at home while wearing an electronic surveillance bracelet.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They include a small number of special forces troops who have been conducting covert surveillance and calling in air strikes.
The Sun (2014)
This is not an expensive correction to make when weighed against the cost of more surveillance equipment in public places.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It seems likely that we are the last people to remember a time before continuous surveillance and other breaches of privacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
An aircraft surveillance team spotted a nearby shark and alerted a boat equipped with shark hunting gear to track the predator.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The rest of us are under constant 24-hour surveillance.
The Sun (2008)
Police mounted surveillance after 20,000 was handed over.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If they want to issue fines, they will spend money on surveillance cameras.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It seems to me rather insulting to them to suggest that they need constant surveillance to do their jobs like decent human beings.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Surveillance operations keep us safe, not engagement with groups who are not interested in helping us.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Judging by the exhibition, it is in the field of covert surveillance that science has made its major contribution.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Our house was under continuous surveillance, with security police cars parked on the road outside 24 hours a day.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Quotations
Big Brother is watching youGeorge Orwell1984
In other languages
surveillance
British English: surveillance NOUN
Surveillance is the careful watching of someone, especially by an organization such as the police or the army.
He was arrested after being kept under constant surveillance.
American English: surveillance
Brazilian Portuguese: vigilância
Chinese: 监视
European Spanish: vigilancia
French: surveillance
German: Überwachung
Italian: sorveglianza
Japanese: 監視
Korean: 감시
European Portuguese: vigilância
Latin American Spanish: vigilancia
All related terms of 'surveillance'
video surveillance
a system of monitoring activity in an area or building using a television system in which signals are transmitted from a television camera to the receivers by cables or telephone links forming a closed circuit
surveillance aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle which can fly, for example an aeroplane or a helicopter .
surveillance operation
An operation is a highly organized activity that involves many people doing different things.
surveillance society
a society where surveillance technology is widely used to monitor people's everyday activities
electronic surveillance
the use of such electronic devices as television monitors , video cameras , etc, to prevent burglary , shop lifting , break-ins , etc
Chinese translation of 'surveillance'
surveillance
(səːˈveɪləns)
n(u)
监(監)视(視) (jiānshì)
under surveillance在监(監)视(視)下 (zài jiānshì xià)
(noun)
Definition
close observation of a person suspected of being a spy or a criminal
He was arrested after being kept under constant surveillance.
Synonyms
observation
careful observation of the movement of the planets
watch
Keep a close watch on him while I'm gone.
scrutiny
supervision
First-time licence holders have to work under supervision.
control
The first aim of his government would be to establish control over the republic's territory.
care
the orphans who were in her care
direction
The house was built under the direction of his partner.
inspection
A routine inspection of the vessel turned up 50 kg of the drug.
vigilance
superintendence
dataveillance
Quotation
Big Brother is watching you [George Orwell – 1984]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of care
Definition
protection or charge
the orphans who were in her care
Synonyms
custody,
keeping,
control,
charge,
management,
protection,
supervision,
guardianship,
safekeeping,
ministration
in the sense of control
Definition
power to direct something
The first aim of his government would be to establish control over the republic's territory.
Synonyms
power,
government,
rule,
authority,
management,
direction,
command,
discipline,
guidance,
supervision,
jurisdiction,
supremacy,
mastery,
superintendence,
charge
in the sense of direction
Definition
management or guidance
The house was built under the direction of his partner.
Synonyms
management,
government,
control,
charge,
administration,
leadership,
command,
guidance,
supervision,
governance,
oversight,
superintendence
Synonyms of 'surveillance'
surveillance
Explore 'surveillance' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inspection
A routine inspection of the vessel turned up 50 kg of the drug.
Synonyms
check,
search,
investigation,
review,
survey,
examination,
scan,
scrutiny,
supervision,
surveillance,
look-over,
once-over (informal),
checkup,
recce (slang),
superintendence
in the sense of superintendence
Synonyms
supervision,
government,
control,
charge,
care,
management,
direction,
guidance,
inspection,
surveillance
in the sense of supervision
First-time licence holders have to work under supervision.