wiretap

play

verb wire·tap \ ˈwī(-ə)r-ˌtap \

Definition of wiretap

intransitive verb

:to tap a telephone or telegraph wire or cellular signal in order to get information

transitive verb

:to tap the telephone of

See wiretap defined for English-language learners

See wiretap defined for kids

Examples of wiretap in a Sentence

The FBI wiretapped his phone.

Recent Examples of wiretap from the Web

Investigators from a Drug Enforcement Task Force began their probe of the organization using buys and wiretaps stemming back to October 2016, a criminal complaint filed by a DEA task force member read.

— nicholas rondinone, courant.com, "Months-Long Drug Operation Nets 20 Kilos Heroin, Fentanyl Largely Packaged For Streets," 30 June 2017
Three and half months after agents began listening in on Dougherty’s cell phone, the FBI obtained court approval to wiretap the city councilman and Crawford.

— chris brennan, Philly.com, "For more than a year, FBI wiretapped labor leader John Dougherty, councilman Bobby Henon," 26 June 2017
In 2015, Macedonia’s conservative government was accused of using the national security services to wiretap up to 20,000 people for its own political gain.

— sarah wilson sokhey, Washington Post, "This is why the West should pay attention to the drama in Macedonia," 29 May 2017
One of the recordings released after a fight with Congress and the courts revealed the president’s involvement in attempts to stymie an investigation into an attempt to wiretap the Democratic National Committee.

— chris strohm, Bloomberg.com, "White House Refuses to Say Whether Trump Tapes Conversations," 12 May 2017
The F.B.I. director is also expected to comment on the president’s baseless claim that President Barack Obama colluded with the British government to illegally wiretap Trump Tower after the election—

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "Donald Trump Is Running Out of Political Capital at the Worst Possible Time," 20 Mar. 2017
The F.B.I. director is also expected to comment on the president’s baseless claim that President Barack Obama colluded with the British government to illegally wiretap Trump Tower after the election—

— tina nguyen, The Hive, "The president’s popularity just hit a new low.," 20 Mar. 2017
There are transcripts of a conversation in at least one phone call, recorded by American intelligence agencies that wiretap foreign diplomats, which may determine Mr. Flynn’s future.

— david e. sanger, eric schmitt and peter baker, New York Times, "Turmoil at the National Security Council, From the Top Down," 12 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wiretap.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of wiretap

1918

wiretap

noun

Definition of wiretap

1 :the act or an instance of wiretapping

2 :an electrical connection for wiretapping

See wiretap defined for English-language learners

Examples of wiretap in a Sentence

Federal agents put a wiretap on his phone.
Investigators listened to the wiretaps for clues about the suspect's whereabouts.

Recent Examples of wiretap from the Web

Separately, seven officers earlier this year were federally indicted for fraud after they were recorded on a wiretap working together to rob and illegally detain Baltimore residents, as well as defraud the department for overtime pay.

— Washington Post, "Police: Nothing questionable about body camera video," 24 Aug. 2017
They had been caught on a wiretap working together to rob and illegally detain citizens.

— juliet linderman, The Seattle Times, "Baltimore police videos don’t inspire public’s confidence," 8 Aug. 2017
During his tenure, Comey reportedly kept a copy of the request to wiretap Martin Luther King Jr.’s phones in his desk as a reminder of the bureau’s dark history.

— matt ford, The Atlantic, "The Senate Overwhelmingly Confirms Christopher Wray as FBI Director," 1 Aug. 2017
In the resulting wiretap, in addition to hearing of X’s contacts with Chinese officials, the FBI learns that X is dealing heroin.

— andrew c. mccarthy, National Review, "Sessions, Trump, and the ‘Counterintelligence’ Confusion," 26 July 2017
The investigation is based in part on wiretaps intercepted by U.S. federal agents in Arizona, according to the complaint filed in San Diego.

— kristina davis, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Alleged mistress of 'El Chapo' to be tried in D.C. on drug charge," 18 July 2017
Then there was the time President Obama ordered a wiretap of his phones at Trump Tower.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "Donald Trump has made conspiracy theories great again," 3 July 2017
Two Kansas City-area attorneys, Adam Crane and David Johnson, have sued CoreCivic and the prison’s telephone provider, Securus Technologies, accusing the firms of violating state wiretap laws by recording their conversations with clients.

— ian cummings and tony rizzo, kansascity.com, "Federal prosecutor leaves after revealing she listened to Leavenworth prison phone calls," 27 June 2017
At least a half-dozen agents were involved in the case, which used stakeouts, confidential informants, search warrants and wiretaps to gather evidence against these desperados.

— joseph gerth, The Courier-Journal, "An old lady, a conspiracy and the FBI | Joseph Gerth," 23 June 2017

First Known Use of wiretap

1907

WIRETAP Defined for English Language Learners

wiretap

play

verb

Definition of wiretap for English Language Learners

: to place a device on (someone's phone) in order to secretly listen to telephone calls

wiretap

noun

Definition of wiretap for English Language Learners

: a device that allows someone to secretly listen to phone conversations
: a conversation that has been recorded using a wiretap

Law Dictionary

wiretap

play

verb wire·tap \ ˈwīr-ˌtap \

legal Definition of wiretap

wiretapped; wiretapping

intransitive verb

:to engage in wiretapping

had probable cause to wiretap

transitive verb

:to interpret through wiretapping

a wiretapped telephone conversation

; also :to connect to the telephone line of for the purpose of wiretapping

wiretapped her home

— compare bug, eavesdrop

wiretap

noun

legal Definition of wiretap

1 :an act or instance of wiretapping

we have held previously that wiretaps are a form of a search
—Whack v. State, 615 A.2d 1226 (1992)

2 :an electrical connection for wiretapping — compare pen register

Learn More about wiretap

See words that rhyme with wiretap Britannica English: Translation of wiretap for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up wiretap? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

wiretap

Definition of wiretap

Explore M-W

Examples of wiretap in a Sentence

Recent Examples of wiretap from the Web

First Known Use of wiretap

wiretap

Definition of wiretap

Examples of wiretap in a Sentence

Recent Examples of wiretap from the Web

First Known Use of wiretap

WIRETAP Defined for English Language Learners

wiretap

Definition of wiretap for English Language Learners

wiretap

Definition of wiretap for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

wiretap

legal Definition of wiretap

wiretap

legal Definition of wiretap

Learn More about wiretap

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

Trending: Ivanka: "An 'Otherwise' Incredible Day"

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Words of the Year: 1066