as in surveillance
military activity in which soldiers, airplanes, etc., are sent to find out information about an enemy
There are two helicopters available for reconnaissance. reconnaissance missions
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Recent Examples of reconnaissance
The captain still remembers the day a Russian Orlan reconnaissance drone hung above a Ukrainian position, transmitting coordinates to guide Russian artillery.
—
Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
The captain still remembers the day a Russian Orlan reconnaissance drone hung above a Ukrainian position, transmitting coordinates to guide Russian artillery.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Dietz was killed June 28, 2005 during a reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
In a chilling escalation, the group also claimed to have identified the precise geographic coordinates of a target through cyber reconnaissance—and that a kinetic missile strike followed.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reconnaissance
Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
The captain still remembers the day a Russian Orlan reconnaissance drone hung above a Ukrainian position, transmitting coordinates to guide Russian artillery.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Dietz was killed June 28, 2005 during a reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
In a chilling escalation, the group also claimed to have identified the precise geographic coordinates of a target through cyber reconnaissance—and that a kinetic missile strike followed.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reconnaissance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reconnaissance
Noun
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Ring surveillance video from the night of the shooting showed people ducking for cover on the 1500 block of South Etting Street as gunshots were fired.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Detectives and crime scene investigators canvassed the area for witnesses, surveillance video, and evidence.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Costco will not be an option for shoppers on Easter Sunday this year, as the company's website says warehouses will be closed in observation of the holiday.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2026
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Once controlled by governments, Earth observation has evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry supplying near-real-time intelligence to clients worldwide.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reconnaissance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reconnaissance. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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