Surveillance
/sɜːrˈveɪləns/
nounC1
Definition
Surveillance means watching someone or something closely, usually for security or information. It often involves cameras, guards, or other tools to observe without being noticed. People use surveillance to protect places, find problems, or control situations.
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See It in Action
Watching people or places for security or information
- •The store uses surveillance cameras to prevent theft.
- •Police set up surveillance to watch the suspect's house.
- •Surveillance helps protect important buildings from danger.
Continuous observation by authorities or organizations
- •The government increased surveillance after the event.
- •Hospitals use surveillance to monitor patient safety.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "surveillance" like "watching," but more serious and constant, often done by cameras or people in charge
- ✓Picture a security camera slowly moving and looking around a store or street
- ✓It's the feeling when you know someone is watching to keep things safe or to check if rules are followed
- ✓Sounds like "sir-VAY-lens" → imagine a "sir" (a guard) holding a lens (camera) watching carefully
- ✓Think of spy movies where agents watch targets without being seen, using hidden cameras or microphones
- ✓NOT like "look" (a quick, casual action), surveillance is long and careful watching over time
- ✓NOT like "search" (actively trying to find something), surveillance is more about continuous watching
- ✓NOT like "monitor" (can be watching a screen), surveillance includes the whole system of watching and recording
Try Other Words
- •Monitoring: watching or checking something regularly (Use when emphasizing checking or following progress)
- •Observation: the act of looking carefully (Use when focusing on noticing details)
- •Watching: looking at something or someone (Use in informal or general contexts)
- •Spying: secret watching to get information (Use when watching is secret and often for spying purposes)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "sur-" (over, above) + "veillance" from Latin "vigilare" (to watch)
- •Etymology: From French "surveillance," meaning "watching over"
- •Historical development: Originally used in law and military to mean careful watching for safety or control
- •Modern usage: Used in security, law enforcement, technology (like CCTV), and sometimes in social or political contexts
Reflect & Connect
•How do you feel about being under surveillance in public places? Is it helpful or scary?
•Can surveillance be fair and respect privacy, or does it always invade personal space?
Fill in the blanks
1.Surveillance cameras are used ___ to catch people who break the rules.
2.When police set up surveillance, they try to ___ without being noticed.
3.Unlike a quick look, surveillance means watching a place or person ___ for a long time.
4.Hospitals use surveillance to ___ the health of patients closely.
5.Surveillance often involves technology like cameras or microphones to ___ information.
6.People may feel uncomfortable under surveillance because they know ___ is watching them.
7.Surveillance is different from spying because it can be ___ and legal, not always secret.