Wiretapping: meaning, definitions and examples

Used specifically for the interception of telephone or electronic communications without consent. It is mostly used in legal, criminal, or police contexts and can have negative connotations due to privacy invasion.

• The police obtained a warrant to conduct wiretapping on the suspect's phone.
• Wiretapping scandals have led to numerous political controversies.

Generally refers to listening in on someone's private conversation without their knowledge. It can be used in both everyday and more serious contexts, but often has a sneaky or unethical connotation.

• She was caught eavesdropping on her colleagues' conversation.
• Eavesdropping on private discussions can breach trust among friends.

Used in the context of continuous observation of a person or area, often for security, military, or police purposes. It can also be used in a broader sense, including digital or electronic means of observation.

• The parking lot is under 24/7 surveillance to ensure safety.
• The government increased surveillance measures to prevent crime.

Used for continuous observation or checking, often in a professional or neutral context. It doesn't necessarily involve secrecy and can be perfectly legal and ethical.

• The IT department is responsible for monitoring network activity to prevent cyber attacks.
• Heart rate monitoring is vital for patients in critical care.

Used mainly in legal and law enforcement settings to describe the act of listening in on phone conversations, typically with legal authorization.

• The police obtained a warrant for wiretapping the suspect's phone.
• Wiretapping is often used in criminal investigations to gather evidence.

Indicates the act of catching or capturing communication or signals as they are being transmitted, often in a broader sense that includes both legal and illegal activities.

• The military has technology that allows for the interception of enemy communications.
• Interception of data packets can be used to improve network security.

Conveys a negative connotation and refers to the act of prying into someone’s private affairs without their permission, often considered intrusive and unethical.

• She caught her coworker snooping through her emails.
• Snooping on someone's private conversations is a serious breach of trust.

Generally used in informal contexts to describe the act of listening in on telephone or digital communications, can be either legal or illegal.

• He was nervous that someone might be tapping his phone.
• Detectives were tapping into the suspect's conversations to gather information.