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

Cartels are known to employ drones to transport drugs and weapons and even conduct reconnaissance missions to monitor law enforcement activities. —Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025

For more than 60 years, the military has launched reconnaissance, communications, and missile warning satellites into orbit. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025

This kind of granular maritime reconnaissance began in the 1960s, when the NRL developed a ship surveillance capability known as HULTEC, short for hull-to-emitter correlation. —IEEE Spectrum, 21 Jan. 2025

The chopper is critical for reconnaissance, and William had been expected to talk to the armed forces members about the Corps' work and meet teams training at the facility. —Janine Henni, People.com, 16 Jan. 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