counterintelligence

noun

coun·​ter·​in·​tel·​li·​gence ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s 

: 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

Daly was an investigator and counterintelligence operative for the federal law enforcement agency. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026

Qrypt had been negotiating its first large contract, with the Pentagon, until a counterintelligence official called about Broidy’s allegations. —David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026

The files stem from a decade-old counterintelligence probe into a Chinese woman, known both as Christine Fang and Fang Fang, who reportedly helped Swalwell with fundraising and placing an intern in his office during the 2014 campaign cycle. —Sophie Brams, The Hill, 29 Mar. 2026

Those concerns came as part of a widening counterintelligence investigation. —Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterintelligence

• intelligence

Kids Definition

counterintelligence

noun

coun·​ter·​in·​tel·​li·​gence ˌkau̇nt-ə-rin-ˈtel-ə-jən(t)s 

: activities of an intelligence service meant to hide the truth from an enemy or to prevent the enemy from learning secret information