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Glite Dictionary
wiretapper

wiretapper

1 8.6
A person who secretly listens to other people's phone calls with a hidden device
  • noun
  • /ˈwaɪərˌtæpər/
translation icon : interceptor de comunicaciones
  • The wiretapper used advanced technology to eavesdrop on confidential discussions.

Examples

  • Background checkers, muckrakers, and illegal wiretappers may want to try noticing.

    Academic text (2007)

  • In any case, there's no reliable way for the wiretapper to know in advance whether the target will be alerted by a browser that scrutinizes new certificates.

    Blog text (25)

  • The police arrested the wiretapper for secretly listening to private phone calls.

  • She discovered that a wiretapper had intercepted her conversations without her knowledge.

Synonyms

spy
vswiretapper
623 2.9

A person who secretly collects information for a government or company

concentrates on private telephone or telegraph listening with a concealed device
snoop
vswiretapper
26 7.4

A person who secretly looks for other people's private information

focuses on listening to telephone or telegraph communications with a hidden device
eavesdropper
vswiretapper
4 6.1

A person who secretly listens to other people's private conversations

uses a hidden device attached to phone or telegraph lines rather than nearby listening
snooper
vswiretapper
3 7.4

A person who secretly tries to find out about other people's private things

listens specifically to telephone or telegraph messages using a concealed device
tapper
vswiretapper
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A person who secretly listens to other people's phone calls

focuses on listening via a hidden device rather than general interception
phone tapper
vswiretapper
8.9

A person who secretly listens to other people's phone calls

focuses on listening via a hidden device attached to phone or telegraph lines

How Invasive

intelligence officer
  • Specialized
33 3.7
wiretapper
1 8.6
eavesdropper
4 6.1

Surface Forms

wiretapper singular
wiretappers plural

Morphology

wiretapper = wiretap (transparent) = wire + tap + er

Formed by adding the agentive suffix '-er' to the verb 'wiretap'; the agentive meaning 'one who wiretaps' is straightforward.

Etymology

Wiretapper comes from wire and tap, where to 'tap' meant 'to make a small connection to take something out', like tapping a tree for sap or a phone line to hear calls. So a wiretapper is a person who secretly listens to telephone or telegraph lines to get information.