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surveillance

ser-VAY-lunss /sərˈveɪləns/

nounB2GRETOEFLIELTS

formalgeneral

Close observation of a person, group, or ongoing situation, especially by authorities tracking health, security, or crime.

In public health, epidemiological surveillance means systematic, ongoing collection and analysis of health data to spot disease trends.

The story behind the word. Borrowed from French 'surveillance', from 'sur-' (over) and 'veiller' (to watch). Rooted in Latin 'vigilare' (to stay awake / be vigilant). Originally applied to police watching suspects during the French Revolution.

Word relationships

monitoring: Monitoring is general tracking; surveillance implies systematic, high-alert observation.
scrutiny: Scrutiny focuses on critical critical examination of details rather than continuous tracking.

neglect: Lack of attention or monitoring.
ignorance: State of being uninformed.

Commonly confused with

survey: A survey is a single questionnaire or overview; surveillance is continuous, active observation over time.

Word family

surveyor (noun): A person who examines land or conditions.

Collocations

surveillance system
epidemiological surveillance
under surveillance
surveillance data

Example sentences

"Global genomic surveillance allows scientists to track emerging viral mutations before they establish community transmission." Epidemiological monitoring
"Privacy advocates raised concerns regarding the expansion of digital surveillance systems in major urban centers." Civil liberties & technology

Memory hook

SURVEILLance = SUR (over) + VEILL (vigilant watching from above). Sur-veiller = Watching over like a vigilant guard.

When not to use

Do not use to describe casual, informal watching or brief check-ins.

Fun facts

In epidemiology, 'sentinel surveillance' uses a small network of clinics to monitor widespread health trends without surveying every hospital in a nation.