espionage
Americannoun
-
the act or practice of spying.
-
the use of spies by a government to discover the military and political secrets of other nations.
-
the use of spies by a corporation or the like to acquire the plans, technical knowledge, etc., of a competitor.
industrial espionage.
noun
-
the systematic use of spies to obtain secret information, esp by governments to discover military or political secrets
-
the act or practice of spying
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of espionage
First recorded in 1785–95; from French espionnage, Middle French espionage, from espionn(er) “to spy” (derivative of espion “a spy,” from Italian spione, from Germanic ) + -age -age; see espy
Explanation
It's no secret: espionage is the act of organized spying, usually with the goal of uncovering sensitive military or political information. If the government has relocated you to a foreign country, made you change your name, given you a fake mustache to wear, and instructed you to hide in a closet at the presidential palace and report back weekly on what you overhear, then you are engaging in espionage. This noun is similar to snooping, but generally applies to much more serious situations, like when countries or businesses spy on each other to try to obtain top secret information.
Vocabulary lists containing espionage
Vocabulary from the Third and Final Presidential Debate, October 19, 2016
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Farewell to Manzanar
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
World War I
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
China has rejected allegations of a Chinese espionage operation targeting Nvidia's chief executive, Jensen Huang, describing the claims as "groundless speculation".
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Vivant is about a Japanese salaryman who finds himself entangled in an international web of crime and espionage.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
“The Reckoning” identifies Marlowe’s parallel career in espionage as the likely cause of his killing at Deptford on the south bank of the Thames.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
The case highlights a paradox: while Europe's armies are bolstering their protection against espionage and hybrid threats, the vehicles they use can collect sensitive information.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
East Germany's master spy built the largest espionage network in the entire world, recruiting thousands of spies, informers, and watchers.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
