wiretap

1 of 2

verb

wire·​tap ˈwī(-ə)r-ˌtap How to pronounce wiretap (audio)
wiretapped; wiretapping; wiretaps

intransitive verb

: to tap a telephone or telegraph wire or cellular signal in order to get information

transitive verb

: to tap the telephone of

wiretap

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or an instance of wiretapping
2
: an electrical connection for wiretapping

Examples of wiretap in a Sentence

Verb The FBI wiretapped his phone. Noun Federal agents put a wiretap on his phone. Investigators listened to the wiretaps for clues about the suspect's whereabouts.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
In that case, federal investigators obtained approval to wiretap his phone amid questions about $300,000 that wound up in bank accounts belonging to him and his wife. Jake Offenhartz and Karen Matthews, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024 Section 702 permits the US government to wiretap communications between Americans and foreigners overseas. Dell Cameron, WIRED, 12 Apr. 2024
Noun
Suspicious investigators used wiretaps to discover the two men — far from being bankrupt — had grand plans to open parlours abroad. Brooke Seipel, Fortune Europe, 27 Oct. 2024 Cheng Xin | Getty Images U.S. broadband providers had their networks breached in a cyberattack tied to the Chinese government that targeted wiretap requests, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. Annie Nova, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wiretap 

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1918, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wiretap was in 1907

Dictionary Entries Near wiretap

Cite this Entry

“Wiretap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wiretap. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wiretap

1 of 2 verb
wire·​tap ˈwī(ə)r-ˌtap How to pronounce wiretap (audio)
: to tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information
wiretapper noun

wiretap

2 of 2 noun
: the act or an instance of wiretapping

Legal Definition

wiretap

1 of 2 verb
wire·​tap ˈwīr-ˌtap How to pronounce wiretap (audio)
wiretapped; wiretapping

intransitive verb

: to engage in wiretapping
had probable cause to wiretap

transitive verb

: to interpret through wiretapping
a wiretapped telephone conversation
also : to connect to the telephone line of for the purpose of wiretapping
wiretapped her home
compare bug, eavesdrop

wiretap

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act or instance of wiretapping
we have held previously that wiretaps are a form of a searchWhack v. State, 615 A.2d 1226 (1992)
2
: an electrical connection for wiretapping compare pen register

More from Merriam-Webster on wiretap

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