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
To this end, they could be used effectively by Ukraine against things like Orlan-10 reconnaissance drones, Lancet loitering munitions, or Ka-52 and Mi-24 attack helicopters.
—
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
The closest Ukrainian soldiers were several kilometers from the site, and the Ukrainians did a careful reconnaissance before sending four men on foot.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
In 1964, the National Police Board, together with the Swedish Police Association, launched a trial assigning women to special tasks, once again limiting their work to investigative, reconnaissance, and security patrol duties, without participation in regular uniformed service.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
To do this, the mission is leaning on the ER-2 (Earth Resources 2) aircraft, which is NASA's adaptation of the Lockheed Martin U-2 reconnaissance plane, optimized for civilian missions.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reconnaissance
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Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
The closest Ukrainian soldiers were several kilometers from the site, and the Ukrainians did a careful reconnaissance before sending four men on foot.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
In 1964, the National Police Board, together with the Swedish Police Association, launched a trial assigning women to special tasks, once again limiting their work to investigative, reconnaissance, and security patrol duties, without participation in regular uniformed service.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
To do this, the mission is leaning on the ER-2 (Earth Resources 2) aircraft, which is NASA's adaptation of the Lockheed Martin U-2 reconnaissance plane, optimized for civilian missions.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reconnaissance
Cite this Entry
“Reconnaissance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconnaissance. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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reconnaissance
noun
re·con·nais·sance
ri-ˈkän-ə-zən(t)s
: a survey (as of enemy territory) to gain information
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