stalking
n. US //ˈstɔkɪŋ// UK //stˈɔːkɪŋ// stalk·ing
-
1 harassing a person (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Lawthe crime of following or watching someone in a way that makes them feel scared or unsafe.
the criminal act of persistently following or harassing another individual, typically causing them to fear for their safety.
ExampleThe celebrity had to call the police because of a stalking incident outside her home.
ExampleThe legal definition of stalking has expanded in recent years to include digital surveillance and persistent unwanted online contact.
Usageoften used as an uncountable noun in legal contexts.
From Middle English stalkynge, stalkyng, from Old English stealcung, from Proto-West Germanic *stalkungu, equivalent to stalk + -ing.
From stalk (“the stem of a plant”) + -ing.