espionage Definition
the practice of spying or using spies to obtain secret information, especially political or military information.
Using espionage: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "espionage" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The country's espionage activities were uncovered by foreign intelligence agencies.
Example
He was arrested for espionage and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Example
The government is concerned about the increasing threat of cyber espionage.
Example
Espionage is a common theme in spy novels.
espionage Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for espionage
- spying
- surveillance
- reconnaissance
- infiltration
- intelligence gathering
Phrases with espionage
the practice of stealing trade secrets or proprietary information from a business competitor
Example
The company was accused of engaging in industrial espionage against its rivals.
the practice of stealing trade secrets or proprietary information from a foreign government or business in order to gain a competitive advantage
Example
The government has accused foreign agents of engaging in economic espionage against American companies.
counter-espionage
activities undertaken to prevent or thwart espionage by an enemy or rival organization
Example
The agency has a dedicated unit for counter-espionage operations.
Origins of espionage
from French 'espionnage', from 'espionner' meaning 'to spy'
Summary: espionage in Brief
The term 'espionage' [ˈɛspɪənɑːʒ] refers to the practice of spying or using spies to obtain secret information, particularly political or military information. It includes activities such as surveillance, infiltration, and reconnaissance. Examples of espionage include the theft of trade secrets and proprietary information in industrial and economic espionage. Counter-espionage refers to activities undertaken to prevent or thwart espionage by an enemy or rival organization.
