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Definition of surveillance

surveillance

/sɚˈveɪ.ləns/
sur · veil · lance
Adjective:surveillant
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surveillance Lexical Profile

surveillance Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Close, continuous observation or monitoring of a person, group, or area, especially one under suspicion or for security purposes.

Example

"The bank installed high-definition cameras to maintain constant surveillance of the vault."

2

The ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data to track and prevent the spread of diseases in a population.

Example

"Public health agencies rely on epidemiological surveillance to detect early outbreaks of seasonal influenza."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for surveillance

• Nearby Words

surroundings
surtax
surveil
surveillance
survey
surveying
surveyor

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 18th century from French 'surveillance', from the verb 'surveiller' ('to watch over'), formed from 'sur-' ('over') and 'veiller' ('to watch'), which ultimately derives from Latin 'vigilare' ('to keep awake').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Surveillance. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/surveillance
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