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

Mavic drones are used for reconnaissance in Ukraine’s battlefields. —Joseph Nepomuceno, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025

Australia's Department of Defense The underwater drone—described as a cutting-edge platform—is capable of conducting intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike operations at long range. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025

Use these events for reconnaissance. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

The scope of cooperation should grow to include joint naval and air activities in the Indian Ocean involving more submarine cooperation, airborne reconnaissance operations, and joint contingency planning. —Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 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