nanny cam

noun

plural nanny cams

: a camera that is often hidden inside a home and that is used to monitor childcare providers, children, and sometimes pets from a different location

… parents using nanny cams cite benefits like peace of mind, safety, emergency evidence and staying connected …

—Heather M. Ross

In the TV show and in the book, … Maya's friend Eva gives her a digital photo frame containing a hidden nanny cam. It's to watch little Lily's nanny Izabella, says Eva, and for Maya and Lily's protection now that they're living alone.

—Louisa Mellor

Word History

First Known Use

1992, in the meaning defined above