Meaning & use
counter-surveillance
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
the activity of trying to discover and avoid being watched or followed, especially by spies or criminals
Grammar: Uncountable; used with singular verbs. Do not say 'a counter-surveillance'.
Patterns
- carry out counter-surveillance
- counter-surveillance operation
- counter-surveillance equipment
The agent performed counter-surveillance before the meeting to make sure no one was following her.
They used counter-surveillance techniques to detect hidden cameras in the hotel room.
Counter-surveillance is a key part of protecting sensitive information.
Common combinations
- counter-surveillance operation
- The police launched a counter-surveillance operation to catch the stalker.
- counter-surveillance equipment
- He bought counter-surveillance equipment to check his office for bugs.
- counter-surveillance technique
- Learning basic counter-surveillance techniques can help journalists protect their sources.
- conduct counter-surveillance
- The security team conducted counter-surveillance around the building.
Synonyms and how they differ
- surveillance detection
- More formal and often used in military or security manuals; counter-surveillance is broader and includes active measures to avoid being watched.
Word family
- counter-surveil verb
- to watch someone who is watching you; rare but attested.
Commonly confused: counter-surveillance or surveillance?
counter-surveillance vs surveillance
Surveillance is the act of watching someone; counter-surveillance is watching back or trying to avoid being watched.
Practice
The spy checked for listening devices as part of her ______ before the meeting.
Choose one answer.
Counter-surveillance fits because she is trying to detect and avoid being watched. 'Surveillance' alone would mean she is doing the watching, not checking for it. 'Counter-surveillant' is not a word, and 'countersurveillance' without a hyphen is a less standard spelling.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “counter-surveillance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.