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.
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 The agent, who specializes in cases involving counterintelligence as well as aircraft and aerospace technology transfers, wrote in the affidavit that evidence ties Zhou to the phone used to call the family and that Li was tied to a phone used to text them. Julia Marnin july 2, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2025 The budget would also decrease funding for national security, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, threat screening and efforts to counter weapons of mass destruction. Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025 This case was a complex, coordinated effort and is an example of outstanding counterintelligence work done by FBI San Francisco, Portland, Houston, San Diego, and the Counterintelligence Division. Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 1 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

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Cite this Entry

“Counterintelligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintelligence. Accessed 1 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

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