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Eavesdropper: meaning, definitions and examples

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eavesdropper

 

[ ˈiːvzˌdrɒpər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

person

A person who secretly listens to private conversations of others without their consent, typically for the purpose of obtaining information or for entertainment.

Synonyms

listener, snoop, spy

Examples of usage

  • He felt like an eavesdropper as he overheard their conversation.
  • The eavesdropper was caught listening in on the private meeting.
  • She suspected her neighbor was an eavesdropper, as he always seemed to know too much about her personal life.

Translations

Translations of the word "eavesdropper" in other languages:

🇵🇹 espião

🇮🇳 गुप्त श्रोता

🇩🇪 Lauscher

🇮🇩 penyadap

🇺🇦 підслуховувач

🇵🇱 podsłuchiwacz

🇯🇵 盗み聞きする人

🇫🇷 écouteur clandestin

🇪🇸 espía

🇹🇷 kulak misafiri

🇰🇷 엿듣는 사람

🇸🇦 متنصت

🇨🇿 odposlouchávač

🇸🇰 odpočúvač

🇨🇳 窃听者

🇸🇮 prisluškovalec

🇮🇸 hlustari

🇰🇿 тыңдаушы

🇬🇪 მოუსმენელი

🇦🇿 qulaq asan

🇲🇽 espía

Etymology

The term 'eavesdropper' originated from the Middle English 'evesdrop' meaning the space around a house where eaves fall. In the past, people would stand under the eaves to listen to conversations inside the house. Over time, the term evolved to refer to someone who listens in on private conversations.

See also: eavesdropping.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,481, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.