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

President Sheinbaum’s prerequisite about a system to monitor aquifer integrity may find learnings in an extensive surveillance of producing wells and water wells in coalbed methane plays in Australia, which has been documented. — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Northrop Grumman and Boeing have demonstrated enhanced interoperability between the MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft and the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026

And since Jace’s death, she’s treated Baela as nothing more than a defective surveillance drone — a worthless piece of tech that never spots Vhagar. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

More than 580 Google employees, including senior DeepMind researchers, later signed an open letter urging Pichai to reconsider the deal, citing concerns around autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Aug. 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