espionage

[es-pee-uh-nahzh, -nij, es-pee-uh-nahzh]

noun

1. the act or practice of spying.

2. the use of spies by a government to discover the military and political secrets of other nations.

3. the use of spies by a corporation or the like to acquire the plans, technical knowledge, etc., of a competitor.

   industrial espionage.

espionage

/ ˌɛspɪəˈnɑːʒ, ˈɛspɪəˌnɑːʒ, ˈɛspɪənɪdʒ /

noun

1. the systematic use of spies to obtain secret information, esp by governments to discover military or political secrets

2. the act or practice of spying

Other Word Forms

• nonespionage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of espionage¹

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; espy

Word History and Origins

Origin of espionage¹

C18: from French espionnage, from espionner to spy, from espion spy, from Old Italian spione, of Germanic origin; compare German spähen to _spy

Example Sentences

Cooper interviewed Parviz Sabeti, a former director of counter espionage for the Shah's secret police, as part of his research for a biography of the Shah.

From BBC

Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were taken into custody in January during a motorcycle world tour and later charged with espionage - allegations they deny.

From BBC

A US Navy sailor in California has been convicted of espionage for selling the force's secrets to a Chinese agent who recruited him through social media.

From BBC

Beijing's plans for the new embassy have sparked fears its location - very near London's financial district - could pose an espionage risk.

From BBC

It has denied allegations of espionage in Europe.

From BBC

Related Words

• intelligence