armed reconnaissance

noun

1

: reconnaissance by aircraft to locate and attack targets of opportunity in a general area rather than to attack predesignated targets

2

: air reconnaissance to locate and gather intelligence on targets in areas where lack of air superiority makes it necessary for the aircraft to fight its way in and out again

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!