What does intercept mean?
Intercept means to stop, seize, or prevent something before it reaches its intended destination. The word is commonly used for people and vehicles that are diverted from their route, messages or communications that are monitored and captured, and shipments or contraband that are seized by authorities. It also has a technical use in aviation and military language, describing an aircraft or vehicle that takes over or crosses the path of another object, often with the intention of directing, diverting, or challenging it. In mathematics and physics, intercept can refer to meeting or crossing a path or trajectory. The verb is generally neutral to formal and is especially common in news, security, aviation, and communications contexts. Related forms include interception, the act of intercepting, and interceptor, a person, vehicle, or device that performs that function.
To stop, seize, or prevent someone or something from reaching its intended destination; to take over or meet the path of another object or signal.
"The authorities intercepted the courier and recovered the missing documents."
Common in formal, military, aviation, security, and telecommunications contexts. The verb can also mean to prevent something from happening or reaching a particular stage.
An act of stopping or seizing something before it reaches its destination, or a message, communication, or trajectory that has been intercepted.
"The recording was an intercept of a private telephone conversation."
The noun is less common than the verb and is often used in technical, legal, security, or aviation settings.
The usual plural form of the noun, used for separate intercepted communications, messages, or acts of interception.
"The analysts reviewed several intercepts from the intercepted communications."
Intercept literally means to take something in between: from Latin inter-, “between,” and capere, “to take.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intercept come from?
Intercept entered English in the early seventeenth century from Latin interceptare, meaning “to intercept,” formed from inter-, “between,” and capere, “to take.” Its development reflects the older sense of taking or seizing something on its way or in between. The related English words capture, captive, caption, and capable descend from the same Latin root associated with taking or holding.
Related word forms
How intercept is actually used
Intercept is formal but widely used in news, military, aviation, security, telecommunications, and technical contexts. It can sound adversarial or preventative, especially when used of law enforcement or military action.
Easily confused with intercept
To intercept is to stop or take something before it reaches its destination, whereas to interfere is to hinder progress or become involved in a situation improperly.