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
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
Later that night, she was seen in surveillance footage making withdrawals from an ATM — and hasn't been heard from since. —
Aya Al-Hakim, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 The vessel can support mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare, and maritime surveillance. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026 Bank records obtained by CBS 12, through a subpoena, show that Kaiser was allegedly captured on surveillance footage at a JPMorgan Chase branch handing a check falsely attributed to the museum to a teller and then completing the transaction with her debit card. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 The surveillance images show a group of nine individuals – some wearing hoodies and facial coverings – walking on a sidewalk, with some of the suspects’ faces visible to the camera. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surveillance
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Aya Al-Hakim, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 The vessel can support mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare, and maritime surveillance. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026 Bank records obtained by CBS 12, through a subpoena, show that Kaiser was allegedly captured on surveillance footage at a JPMorgan Chase branch handing a check falsely attributed to the museum to a teller and then completing the transaction with her debit card. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 The surveillance images show a group of nine individuals – some wearing hoodies and facial coverings – walking on a sidewalk, with some of the suspects’ faces visible to the camera. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surveillance
Cite this Entry
“Surveillance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/surveillance. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
