noun

wiretap

WEYE-uh-tap

noun

A hidden device attached to a phone line or communication system to secretly listen in on conversations.

"Investigators placed a wiretap on the suspect's home phone."

"The evidence from the wiretap was later thrown out of court."

verb

To secretly monitor someone's phone calls or communications using such a device.

"Federal agents obtained a warrant to wiretap the phone line."

"It is illegal to wiretap someone without proper legal authorization."

How to Use Wiretap

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSecretly listening in on someone's phone calls, usually with special equipment and (legally) a court order.

Common pairings

place a wiretap wiretap warrant illegal wiretap

wiretapped past tense, wiretaps plural, wiretaps singular

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Investigators placed a _____ on the suspect's home phone.

A back-formation from "wiretapper," itself built from wire and tap in the sense of secretly connecting into a line.