surveillance
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.
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.
- Base: surveillance
- Plural: surveillance, surveillances
24-hour surveillance
6continuous around-the-clock monitoring
Surveillance that continues all day and all night without a break.
- 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
8monitoring how often diseases occur
Regular, organized watching and recording of cases of a disease in a group of people.
- 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
5monitoring with electronic devices
Surveillance done with electronic tools, like cameras, microphones, or software that tracks messages.
- 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
9monitoring health in groups
Regular checks and data collection about the health of a group of people, often workers or a community.
- 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
4large-scale monitoring of populations
Surveillance of a very large number of people, often a whole country or group, usually by a government.
- 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
1camera for security monitoring
A camera used to watch and record an area for safety or security.
- 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
7state that heavily watches citizens
A country where the government watches and tracks people very closely, often in many parts of their lives.
- 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
2being watched by authorities
Being carefully and often secretly watched by police, security, or another authority.
- 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
3monitoring using video cameras
Surveillance using video cameras to watch and record an area.
- 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.