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

Founded in 2024, Stark is building attack and reconnaissance drones and has raised $100 million from investors, including Sequoia Capital, Peter Thiel’s Thiel Capital, and the NATO Innovation Fund. —Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025

Its platforms are built for missions including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and low-signature coastal or open-ocean maneuvers. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025

In a statement on Telegram, the General Staff said a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance unit briefly infiltrated the outskirts of the settlement, exploiting weather conditions. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025

Developed by the National University of Defense Technology, the drone can be used for surveillance and reconnaissance. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025

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