espionage

noun

es·​pi·​o·​nage ˈe-spē-ə-ˌnäzh  -ˌnäj 

-nij,

 Canadian also  -ˌnazh;

ˌe-spē-ə-ˈnäzh;

i-ˈspē-ə-nij

: the practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or a competing company

industrial espionage

Synonyms

• spying

Examples of espionage in a Sentence

He was charged with several counts of espionage.

the acts of espionage on behalf of the Confederacy carried on by Belle Boyd and Rose Greenhow

Recent Examples on the Web

Mutual espionage is a geopolitical game played by virtually every nation in the world. —Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2025

The study comes with tensions high between the U.S. and China amidst concerns over espionage, technology and a growing military rivalry and with a new U.S. administration headed by Donald Trump poised to potentially take an even stronger stance on China. —David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025

The Agency takes its time to depict the technical pitter-patter of espionage: swapping vehicles in underground parking lots, staring at spreadsheets for targets, sweeping an apartment for bugs. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025

Some of the other short-term risks identified in the WEF’s latest report include societal polarization, cyber espionage, pollution and inequality. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French espionnage, from Middle French, from espionner to spy, from espion spy, from Old Italian spione, from spia, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German spehōn to spy — more at spy

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

espionage

noun

es·​pi·​o·​nage ˈes-pē-ə-ˌnäzh  -näj 

-ˌnij

: the practice of spying : the use of spies

Legal Definition

espionage

noun

es·​pi·​o·​nage ˈes-pē-ə-ˌnäzh, -ˌnäj, -nij 

: the practice of gathering, transmitting, or losing through gross negligence information relating to the defense of the U.S. with the intent that or with reason to believe that the information will be used to the injury of the U.S. or the advantage of a foreign nation