Home › Words › W › wiretapwiretap/ˈwaɪətæp/wiretap means A connection installed on a telephone line or other communications system in order to allow a third party to conduct covert surveillance of conversations.Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, wiretap ranks #1,593 of 42,762 for Qualifying.wiretap is pronounced /ˈwaɪətæp/.EtymologyBack-formation from wiretapper; or else wire + tapnounA connection installed on a telephone line or other communications system in order to allow a third party to conduct covert surveillance of conversations.verbTo install or to use such a connection.Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).