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eavesdropper

Standard English for someone who secretly listens to others' conversations.

ˈiːvzˌdɹɒpə(ɹ)Documented since 1400sCurrent58 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
Tech, Dev & AI
3 definitions
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Etymology timeline

Born ~1400 · 1 year of recorded use
1400Born2026: 1 citationToday, 2026

Definitions

#1·Apr 28, 2026

Standard English for someone who secretly listens to others' conversations. The word has a vivid origin: before modern drainage, rain fell from eaves onto the 'eavesdrop' ground below, and those who stood there could hear conversations inside a building. In military slang it was also applied to surveillance aircraft. The everyday sense remains fully current and standard rather than slangy.

She noticed the eavesdropper on the next table leaning in as she described the contract details.
Origin: From 'eavesdrop' (the ground under the eaves where someone could stand and hear through windows) + '-er'; the building-to-behavior metaphor is the word's origin. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

One who eavesdrops.

For parents

Eavesdropper means: One who eavesdrops.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.

For ESL learners

eavesdropper means: One who eavesdrops.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.

Heard in the wild
  • The Eavesdropper (Des Lauscher) (plate, folio 18) from Die Chinesische Mauer (The Great Wall of China) http://www.moma.org/collection/works/15977

    Bluesky· May 2026
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#3·Apr 27, 2026

(military, slang) A surveillance aircraft.

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