spy

[ spahy ]

noun

, plural spies.

1. a person employed by a government to obtain secret information or intelligence about another, usually hostile, country, especially with reference to military or naval affairs.
2. a person who keeps close and secret watch on the actions and words of another or others.
3. a person who seeks to obtain confidential information about the activities, plans, methods, etc., of an organization or person, especially one who is employed for this purpose by a competitor:

   an industrial spy.

4. the act of spying.

verb (used without object)

, spied, spy·ing.

1. to observe secretively or furtively with hostile intent (often followed by on or upon ).
2. to act as a spy; engage in espionage.
3. to be on the lookout; keep watch.
4. to search for or examine something closely or carefully.

verb (used with object)

, spied, spy·ing.

1. to catch sight of suddenly; espy; descry:

   to spy a rare bird overhead.

2. to discover or find out by observation or scrutiny (often followed by out ).
3. to observe (a person, place, enemy, etc.) secretively or furtively with hostile intent.
4. to inspect or examine or to search or look for closely or carefully.

spy

/ spaɪ /

noun

1. a person employed by a state or institution to obtain secret information from rival countries, organizations, companies, etc
2. a person who keeps secret watch on others
3. obsolete.
   a close view

verb

1. intrusually foll byon to keep a secret or furtive watch (on)
2. intr to engage in espionage
3. tr to catch sight of; descry

Other Words From

• spyship noun
• outspy verb (used with object) outspied outspying
• super·spy noun plural superspies
• un·spied adjective
• un·spying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spy¹

First recorded in 1200–50; (for the verb) Middle English spien, shortened from espien, espyen “to espy” ( espy ); (for the noun) Middle English, shortened from espy “a spy,” from Old French espie

Word History and Origins

Origin of spy¹

C13 spien, from Old French espier, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German spehōn, Middle Dutch spien

Example Sentences

“Being a spy means being lonely,” she says, missing the point of the series she’s in.

From Los Angeles Times

While the law was written for spies gathering information for a foreign adversary, on its face it also would cover investigative journalism and the publication of information the government has deemed classified.

From New York Times

In his speech, he called the embassy "a spy nest of Russia".

From BBC

Then in 1981 he was acquitted of drug charges after telling a jury at the Old Bailey he was an MI5 agent spying on IRA drug smugglers and gunrunners.

From BBC

Biden's time in office did see flare-ups in relations with China, including a spy balloon saga and displays of Chinese military firepower around Taiwan triggered by the visit of a senior US official.

From BBC

Related Words

• agent
• detective
• informer
• investigator
• mole
• operative
• secret agent
• secret service
• undercover agent