Surveillance: Definition, Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：close watch (surveillance)

surveillance 🔊

/sɜːˈveɪləns/

It means watching a person, place, or activity closely and continuously, usually for security, investigation, or control purposes.

close watch 🔊

➕

/kləʊs wɒtʃ/

The act of closely and systematically observing a person, place, or activity, typically for security, control, or investigation.

📁 Category：Laws & Regulations 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From French 'sur-' (over) + 'veiller' (to watch) + '-ance' (noun suffix). Literally means 'watching over'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'SUR' (like 'sure') + 'VEILL' (like 'veil') + 'ANCE' (like 'ancestor'). You are 'sure' you need to 'veil' or watch over your 'ancestor's' treasures.

📖 Example

To ensure safety in the park, the city has installed several surveillance cameras that record activity 24 hours a day. 🔊 The city has put up many monitoring cameras in the park for round-the-clock safety observation.

🔗 Collocations

electronic surveillance – Monitoring using devices like cameras, microphones, or tracking systems.

under surveillance – Being watched or monitored by authorities or investigators.

surveillance camera – A video camera used for observing an area.

🔄 Synonyms

observation (n.) – The action of closely watching or monitoring.

monitoring (n.) – The act of observing and checking over a period of time.

scrutiny (n.) – Critical observation or examination, often very close and detailed.

🚫 Antonyms

privacy (n.) – The state of being free from observation or disturbance by others.

freedom from observation (n. phrase) – The condition of not being watched or monitored.

🌱 Derivatives

surveil (v.) – To subject to surveillance; to keep a close watch over.

surveillant (n.) – A person who conducts surveillance.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from French 'surveiller' (to watch over). It entered English in the 19th century, gaining prominence with modern security technologies. Today, it's a key term in legal, security, and privacy debates regarding CCTV and digital monitoring.