counterintelligence

noun

coun·​ter·​in·​tel·​li·​gence ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s How to pronounce counterintelligence (audio)
: organized activity of an intelligence service designed to block an enemy's sources of information, to deceive the enemy, to prevent sabotage, and to gather political and military information

Examples of counterintelligence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
By law, grand jury testimony is kept secret, except in matters of national security or counterintelligence, neither of which applies in this case. Meredith Kile, People.com, 22 July 2025 LaCroix has taught a variety of subjects including cybercrime, counterterrorism, critical infrastructure protection, intelligence, counterintelligence and Homeland Security legal and policy Issues. Hunter Lacroix, Baltimore Sun, 13 July 2025 In 2020, the FBI reported that about half of its nearly 5,000 active counterintelligence cases were related to China. David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025 The Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security and counterintelligence service, has increased its surveillance of neighborhoods with high proportions of Arabs and has arrested hundreds. Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterintelligence

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterintelligence was in 1940

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterintelligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintelligence. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

counterintelligence

noun
coun·​ter·​in·​tel·​li·​gence ˌkau̇nt-ə-rin-ˈtel-ə-jən(t)s How to pronounce counterintelligence (audio)
: activities of an intelligence service meant to hide the truth from an enemy or to prevent the enemy from learning secret information

More from Merriam-Webster on counterintelligence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!