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

First, set clear guardrails for high-risk uses of AI — such as health care, elections, surveillance and financial systems. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026

Timmerman added that his office doesn't have any suspects at the moment, but that his team is currently reviewing surveillance footage captured nearby. —Drew Pittock, USA Today, 4 May 2026

Rogue infrastructure attacks are fake or compromised hardware or software that trick users into connecting and enable surveillance or disruption. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 4 May 2026

Henderson has pleaded not guilty to the charges of one count of first-degree dissemination of an unlawful surveillance image and one count of second-degree unlawful surveillance, according to online court records. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 4 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