eavesdropper Definition
a person who secretly listens to the private conversation of others without their consent.
Using eavesdropper: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "eavesdropper" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She overheard her boss talking about her to someone else and realized she had an eavesdropper in the office.
Example
The couple suspected that their neighbor was an eavesdropper, as they often heard him repeating their conversations to others.
Example
He was caught being an eavesdropper when he accidentally revealed information he shouldn't have known.
eavesdropper Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for eavesdropper
Phrases with eavesdropper
a person who is paid to listen to and report on the private conversations of others, typically for espionage or surveillance purposes
Example
The spy was a professional eavesdropper, tasked with gathering sensitive information from his targets.
serial eavesdropper
a person who habitually listens to the private conversations of others without their consent
Example
The woman was known as a serial eavesdropper, always trying to overhear what others were saying.
casual eavesdropper
a person who occasionally listens to the private conversations of others without their consent, often out of curiosity
Example
The man was a casual eavesdropper, sometimes tuning in to other people's conversations while waiting in line or sitting in a coffee shop.
Origins of eavesdropper
from 'eavesdrop', which originally referred to the water that drips from the eaves of a house
Summary: eavesdropper in Brief
'Eavesdropper' [ˈiːvzˌdrɒpə(r)] refers to a person who secretly listens to the private conversations of others without their consent. It can describe a professional, serial, or casual eavesdropper, and is often associated with espionage or surveillance. Examples include 'She overheard her boss talking about her to someone else and realized she had an eavesdropper in the office.'
