# wiretap

> English word · Noun · frequency rank #42,490

## Definitions
1. A connection installed on a telephone line or other communications system in order to allow a third party to conduct covert surveillance of conversations.

## Etymology
Back-formation from wiretapper; or else wire + tap

## Common misspellings (10)
`iwretap`, `wiertap`, `wireatp`, `wiretapp`, `wiretpa`, `wirettap`, `wirretap`, `wirteap`, `wrietap`, `wwiretap`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/wiretap