eavesdropping

noun

eaves·​drop·​ping ˈēvz-ˌdrä-piŋ How to pronounce eavesdropping (audio)
: the act of secretly listening to something private
Highly sophisticated means of electronic eavesdropping were developed and put into use, largely uncontrolled by the law.Wayne R. LaFave & Jerold H. Israel
For a moment, I was worried he'd found out about my eavesdropping the night before, but that didn't seem to be the problem.Rick Riordan

Examples of eavesdropping in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Apple users can now apply to claim their share of a $95 million cash payout to settle a class action case alleging Siri eavesdropping. Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 Christopher Furlong / Getty Images Given the stakes, extreme measures have been taken to avoid eavesdropping, not just sweeping the Sistine Chapel for bugs but shuttering its windows to prevent scanners from detecting vibrations of the cardinals’ words on the panes. Alexander Smith, NBC news, 6 May 2025 Satellite communications are inherently vulnerable to cyber threats, including eavesdropping, signal jamming and data interception. Iri Trashanki, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 Judge Margaret Garnett asked prosecutor Dominic Gentile about the eavesdropping. Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for eavesdropping

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eavesdropping was in 1641

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Cite this Entry

“Eavesdropping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eavesdropping. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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