surveillance

[ ser-vey-luh ns, -veyl-yuh ns ]
/ sərˈveɪ ləns, -ˈveɪl yəns /

noun

a watch kept over a person, group, etc., especially over a suspect, prisoner, or the like: The suspects were under police surveillance.
continuous observation of a place, person, group, or ongoing activity in order to gather information: video cameras used for covert surveillance. See also electronic surveillance.
attentive observation, as to oversee and direct someone or something: increased surveillance of patients with chronic liver disease.

Origin of surveillance

1790–1800; < French, equivalent to surveill(er) to watch over ( sur- sur-1 + veiller < Latin vigilāre to watch; see vigil) + -ance -ance

OTHER WORDS FROM surveillance

coun·ter·sur·veil·lance, noun

Example sentences from the Web for surveillance

British Dictionary definitions for surveillance

surveillance
/ (sɜːˈveɪləns) /

noun

close observation or supervision maintained over a person, group, etc, esp one in custody or under suspicion

Derived forms of surveillance

surveillant, adjective, noun

Word Origin for surveillance

C19: from French, from surveiller to watch over, from sur- 1 + veiller to keep watch (from Latin vigilāre; see vigil)

Medical definitions for surveillance

surveillance
[ sər-vāləns ]

n.

Close observation of a person or group, especially one under suspicion.
The act of observing or the condition of being observed.
The collection, collation, analysis, and dissemination of data.
A type of observational study that involves continuous monitoring of disease occurrence within a population.