surveillance

noun

sur·​veil·​lance sər-ˈvā-lən(t)s 

also

-ˈvāl-yən(t)s 

or

-ˈvā-ən(t)s 

: close watch kept over someone or something (as by a detective)

also : supervision see also immune surveillance

Synonyms of surveillance

• stewardship
• supervision
• oversight
• management
• control
• policing
• regulation

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

This is basically an admission that operational patterns matter enormously in a surveillance-heavy war. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026

This applies not just to basic UAV technology but to all the related tech, the automation via AI, the drone jamming and counter jamming, aerial surveillance, the naval and robotic ground-drone tech and the like. —Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026

Something stuck with one of the private investigators that were hired to do a surveillance on somebody that a client wanted surveilled. —Rafael Perez, Daily News, 25 May 2026

Airport surveillance The DHS' latest move routes all flights carrying entry-eligible passengers who recently travelled from DRC, Uganda and South Sudan to a single port of entry in Virginia. —Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 23 May 2026

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

Phrases Containing surveillance

• counter-surveillance
• electronic surveillance
• immune surveillance
• immunological surveillance
• keep under surveillance

Kids Definition

surveillance

noun

sur·​veil·​lance sər-ˈvā-lən(t)s 

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