espionage
playDefinition of espionage
: the practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or a competing company industrial espionage
People Are Reading
Examples of espionage in a Sentence
He was charged with several counts of espionage.
the acts of espionage on behalf of the Confederacy carried on by Belle Boyd and Rose Greenhow
Recent Examples of espionage from the Web
-
VEB has played a role in Russian espionage efforts in the past, serving as the cover for a Russian operative convicted last year of spying in New York.
-
In today’s world of cyber espionage, cellphone security experts say such a policy is not only unorthodox, but dangerous.
-
FBI Special Agent Dougherty: As long as there's two different nations on the planet, there will always be espionage.
-
The fourth and final season of the drama about espionage during the Revolutionary War era begins.
-
Many factories have strict policies against photography to prevent industrial espionage.
-
If Kushner had been a CIA agent and reached out to the Russians to establish a secret communication channel, former Acting CIA Director John McLaughlin said it would have been treated as espionage.
-
The earlier claim that Republicans were purely passive and unwitting beneficiaries of Russian espionage in the 2016 election has now been pierced.
-
Speaking of living, Calexico returns from Europe in September, and will be hitting both coasts before flying back across the pond in October for further espionage.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'espionage'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of espionage
French espionnage, from Middle French, from espionner to spy, from espion spy, from Old Italian spione, from spia, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German spehōn to spy — more at spy
Other Government and Politics Terms
ESPIONAGE Defined for English Language Learners
espionage
playDefinition of espionage for English Language Learners
-
: the things that are done to find out secrets from enemies or competitors : the activity of spying
ESPIONAGE Defined for Kids
espionage
playDefinition of espionage for Students
: the practice of spying : the use of spies
Law Dictionary
espionage
playLegal Definition of espionage
: the practice of gathering, transmitting, or losing through gross negligence information relating to the defense of the U.S. with the intent that or with reason to believe that the information will be used to the injury of the U.S. or the advantage of a foreign nation
Learn More about espionage
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for espionage Spanish Central: Translation of espionage Nglish: Translation of espionage for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of espionage for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about espionage
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up espionage? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!