wiretap

1 of 2

verb

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
That’s why law enforcement can’t just wiretap us all at will. — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025 After Pryor's identification, judges gave the green light for investigators to wiretap two of his cell phones. — Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
That initially worked, as a Springfield judge allowed his motion to suppress — ruling that the recordings violated the wiretap statute. — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026 Silverman said last week that discovery materials would include the results of a wiretap and searches of Burke’s cellphone and iCloud accounts. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 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

Rhymes for wiretap

See All Rhymes for wiretap

Browse Nearby Words

wire-tailed bird of paradise
wiretap
wiretapper
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wiretap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wiretap. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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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 search—Whack v. State, 615 A.2d 1226 (1992)
2
: an electrical connection for wiretapping compare pen register

More from Merriam-Webster on wiretap

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wiretap

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