snoop

[ snoop ]
/ snup /
Informal.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR snoop ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to prowl or pry; go about in a sneaking, prying way.

noun

an act or instance of snooping.
a person who snoops.
a private detective.

Origin of snoop

1825–35, Americanism; < Dutch snoepen to take and eat food on the sly

OTHER WORDS FROM snoop

snoop·er, noun

Words nearby snoop

snog, snollygoster, snood, snook, snooker, snoop, snooper, snooperscope, snoopy, snoose, snoot

Words related to snooper

detective, rubberneck, meddler, sleuth, eavesdropper, scout, gumshoe, pry, busybody, quidnunc, pragmatist, ferret, prier, pryer

Example sentences from the Web for snooper

British Dictionary definitions for snooper (1 of 2)

snooper
/ (ˈsnuːpə) /

noun

a person who snoops
British informal a person employed by the DSS to spy on claimants to make sure that they are not infringing the conditions of their eligibility for benefit

British Dictionary definitions for snooper (2 of 2)

snoop
/ (snuːp) informal /

verb

(intr; often foll by about or around) to pry into the private business of others

noun

a person who pries into the business of others
an act or instance of snooping

Derived forms of snoop

snoopy, adjective

Word Origin for snoop

C19: from Dutch snoepen to eat furtively