Finesentence logo

Snooping: meaning, definitions and examples

🕵️‍♂️
Add to dictionary

snooping

 

[ ˈsnuːpɪŋ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

invasion of privacy

To snoop means to investigate or look around in a secretive or nosy way, especially into the private affairs of others. It is often considered intrusive and disrespectful.

Synonyms

peek, pry, spy

Examples of usage

  • He was caught snooping through her personal belongings.
  • They hired a private investigator to snoop on their neighbor.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

Snooping can also refer to the act of secretly looking or listening in on someone else's conversations or activities, especially to gain information.

Synonyms

eavesdropping, peeking, spying

Examples of usage

  • She couldn't resist a bit of snooping to find out what was going on.
  • The government's snooping on citizens' electronic communications raised concerns about privacy.

Translations

Translations of the word "snooping" in other languages:

🇵🇹 bisbilhotar

🇮🇳 जासूसी

🇩🇪 herumschnüffeln

🇮🇩 mengintip

🇺🇦 шпигунство

🇵🇱 węszenie

🇯🇵 のぞき見

🇫🇷 espionnage

🇪🇸 espiar

🇹🇷 gizlice gözlemek

🇰🇷 엿보기

🇸🇦 التجسس

🇨🇿 špehování

🇸🇰 špehovanie

🇨🇳 窥探

🇸🇮 vohljanje

🇮🇸 njósna

🇰🇿 тыңшылық

🇬🇪 ჯაშუშობა

🇦🇿 casusluq

🇲🇽 espiar

Word origin

The word 'snoop' originated from the Dutch word 'snoepen' meaning to eat in secret. Over time, it evolved to mean investigating secretly or prying into others' affairs. 'Snooping' gained popularity in the 20th century with the rise of privacy concerns and surveillance technologies.

See also: snoop.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,882, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.