reconnaissance

noun

re·​con·​nais·​sance ri-ˈkä-nə-zən(t)s 

-sən(t)s

: a preliminary survey to gain information

especially : an exploratory military survey of enemy territory

Examples of reconnaissance in a Sentence

There are two helicopters available for reconnaissance.

They did a reconnaissance of the enemy's position.

Recent Examples on the Web

Four rangers and two volunteers searched on the ground, and the park's contract helicopter spotted an unresponsive person on a reconnaissance flight during a window of favorable weather, the service said. —Brian Dakss, CBS News, 12 June 2024

Even without good reconnaissance, an abundance of drones can be used effectively. —Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2024

What is coming with you on this reconnaissance mission? —Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2024

Finding Ennis Photo: HBO Taylor drew heavily on a reconnaissance trip to Anchorage, the state’s most populous city, as well as two coastal cities further north, Nome and Kotzebue, which played huge roles in defining the isolated feel of Ennis. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, recognition, from Middle French reconoissance, from Old French reconoistre to recognize

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

reconnaissance

noun

re·​con·​nais·​sance ri-ˈkän-ə-zən(t)s 

: a survey (as of enemy territory) to gain information