surveillance
gb/sɚvˈeɪləns/ us/sɚvˈeɪləns/
B2
English
~ 6100
megfigyelés, járványügyi felügyelet, népegészségügyi monitorozás
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
1
megfigyelés
B1
Usage pattern:
to keep [someone/something] under surveillance
The suspects had been under police surveillance for several weeks before the arrest.
A gyanúsítottakat a letartóztatásuk előtt több héten át rendőri megfigyelés alatt tartották.
New laws limit government surveillance of citizens' online activities.
Az új törvények korlátozzák az állampolgárok online tevékenységének kormányzati megfigyelését.
Security cameras provide 24-hour surveillance of the parking lot to deter theft.
Human rights groups raised concerns about the mass surveillance of phone records.
The embassy is one of the most heavily protected buildings, with constant surveillance inside and out.
Learner examples
The police put the man under surveillance.
A rendőrség megfigyelés alá helyezte a férfit.
There is a surveillance camera at the bank entrance.
A bank bejáratánál biztonsági kamera van.
The government increased surveillance after the attack.
The store uses video surveillance to stop shoplifting.
Activists are worried about mass surveillance of the public.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "surveillance" with "survey". "Surveillance" means continuous watching or monitoring, often by police or security. "Survey" usually means asking questions or measuring opinions, or looking carefully at something once.
Meaning
official monitoring of people or places
Collocations
under surveillance
|surveillance camera
|police surveillance
|mass surveillance
|video surveillance
|24-hour surveillance
Synonyms
monitoring (More general and neutral; does not always suggest police or security involvement.)
|
watch (Less formal and less technical; often suggests simple looking rather than organized tracking.)
|
observation (More neutral and scientific; can be used outside security or law-enforcement contexts.)
Antonyms
privacy (Emphasizes being unobserved and free from monitoring, which surveillance removes.)
Themes
law
|security
|politics
Definition
Careful, ongoing watching of people or places, usually by police or security, to get information or stop crime.
The continuous or repeated observation of people or places, especially by authorities, to gather information, detect threats, or prevent crime.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
disease surveillance of [a disease/area]
Improved disease surveillance helped officials detect the outbreak at an early stage.
A hatékonyabb járványügyi felügyeletnek köszönhetően a hatóságok már korai szakaszban észlelték a járványkitörést.
The country invested heavily in surveillance systems to monitor new cases of influenza.
Az ország jelentős összegeket fektetett járványügyi felügyeleti rendszerekbe az új influenzaesetek nyomon követésére.
Accurate surveillance data are essential for planning effective vaccination campaigns.
Occupational health surveillance is required in industries with exposure to toxic chemicals.
Global surveillance of emerging infections has become a key public health priority.
Learner examples
Disease surveillance showed a rise in flu cases.
A járványügyi felügyelet adatai azt mutatták, hogy nőtt az influenzaesetek száma.
The government runs a surveillance program for COVID-19.
A kormány járványügyi felügyeleti programot működtet a COVID-19 nyomon követésére.
Good surveillance data help doctors plan vaccines.
Health surveillance at factories checks workers for problems.
Scientists use surveillance systems to find new viruses.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning always involves cameras or police. In medical and environmental contexts, "surveillance" usually means collecting and studying data about diseases or risks, not physically watching people.
Meaning
systematic monitoring of diseases
Collocations
disease surveillance
|health surveillance
|surveillance system
|surveillance data
|surveillance program
Synonyms
epidemiological monitoring (More technical and specific; clearly refers to tracking diseases in populations.)
|
health monitoring (Broader and less formal; can include tracking individual or public health, not always through formal systems.)
Antonyms
underreporting (Refers to not recording enough cases, which undermines or counters proper surveillance.)
Themes
medicine
|science
|government
|health
Definition
Regular, organized watching and recording of health or environment information to find and control problems like diseases.
The ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health or environmental data to detect, track, and respond to problems such as disease outbreaks or harmful exposures.
Grammar
Dictionary form
surveillance
IPA
GB/sɚvˈeɪləns/
US/sɚvˈeɪləns/
Syllables & stress
sur - veil - lance (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: surveillance
- Plural: surveillance, surveillances
Word family
Forms
surveillances
noun
Advanced or less common
surveil
verb C1
Expressions
24-hour surveillance
6/twˈɛnti fˈɔɹ ˈaʊɚ sɚvˈeɪləns/
fixed phrase
continuous around-the-clock monitoring
Surveillance that continues all day and all night without a break.
Examples
- The museum keeps its most valuable paintings under 24-hour surveillance.
- High-risk patients are placed under 24-hour surveillance in the intensive care unit.
- The warehouse is protected by 24-hour surveillance and an alarm system.
disease surveillance
8/dɪzˈiz sɚvˈeɪləns/
fixed phrase
technical
monitoring how often diseases occur
Regular, organized watching and recording of cases of a disease in a group of people.
Examples
- Strong disease surveillance is essential for stopping epidemics quickly.
- The report called for better disease surveillance in rural areas.
- International disease surveillance systems share information about new infections.
electronic surveillance
5/ɪlˌɛktɹˈɔnɪk sɚvˈeɪləns/
fixed phrase
formal
monitoring with electronic devices
Surveillance done with electronic tools, like cameras, microphones, or software that tracks messages.
Examples
- Electronic surveillance was used to record the suspect's phone calls.
- New laws regulate electronic surveillance of employees at work.
- The court must approve most forms of electronic surveillance.
health surveillance
9/hˈɛlθ sɚvˈeɪləns/
fixed phrase
technical
monitoring health in groups
Regular checks and data collection about the health of a group of people, often workers or a community.
Examples
- Health surveillance in the factory helps protect workers from long-term hearing loss.
- The company introduced health surveillance for staff exposed to chemicals.
- National health surveillance programs track trends in chronic diseases.
mass surveillance
4/mˈæs sɚvˈeɪləns/
fixed phrase
formal
large-scale monitoring of populations
Surveillance of a very large number of people, often a whole country or group, usually by a government.
Examples
- Civil liberties groups strongly oppose mass surveillance of phone records.
- The leaks revealed the extent of mass surveillance carried out by intelligence agencies.
- Many people fear that new technology will lead to mass surveillance.
surveillance camera
1/sɚvˈeɪləns kˈæmɚə/
fixed phrase
camera for security monitoring
A camera used to watch and record an area for safety or security.
Examples
- The thief was caught on a surveillance camera near the exit.
- They installed a new surveillance camera above the front door.
- Surveillance cameras cover every corner of the shopping mall.
surveillance state
7/sɚvˈeɪləns stˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
state that heavily watches citizens
A country where the government watches and tracks people very closely, often in many parts of their lives.
Examples
- Critics warn that the new law could turn the country into a surveillance state.
- Some citizens accept the surveillance state in exchange for a feeling of safety.
- The novel describes a dystopian surveillance state controlled by a single party.
under surveillance
2/ˈʌndɚ sɚvˈeɪləns/
fixed phrase
formal
being watched by authorities
Being carefully and often secretly watched by police, security, or another authority.
Examples
- The journalist later discovered that she had been under surveillance for months.
- All entrances to the building are under surveillance at night.
- Several activists claim they are under surveillance because of their protests.
video surveillance
3/vˈɪdioʊ sɚvˈeɪləns/
fixed phrase
monitoring using video cameras
Surveillance using video cameras to watch and record an area.
Examples
- The parking garage is under video surveillance at all times.
- Video surveillance has reduced vandalism in the station.
- The company upgraded its video surveillance system last year.