Wiretapping

/ˈwaɪərˌtæpɪŋ/ noun

Definition

The act of secretly listening to or recording someone's telephone conversations without their permission.

Etymology

From 'wire' (telephone lines, from Old English 'wir') and 'tap' (to intercept). The practice became common in the 20th century with telephone technology.

Kelly Says

Wiretapping became so famous through spy stories that people forget it's still legal with a court order—the word conjures images of secret agents, but it's actually a tool used regularly by law enforcement with oversight.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.