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

Some historians might trace airborne warfare to earlier conflicts, when reconnaissance balloons offered eagle-eyed views of battlefields and troop movements. —Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2025

Instead, Parker explained, the suspect was tasked by higher leadership within ISIS-K to conduct reconnaissance of the road leading to Abbey Gate and to see if there were any roadblocks or law enforcement along the route. —Greg Wehner, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2025

René Magritte’s 1933 La reconnaissance infine stole the show, landing more than £10 million. —George Nelson For Artnews, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2025

And Washington should do so, backing up the European effort in areas including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, cybersecurity, and some elements of logistical support, but without stationing U.S. forces inside Ukraine. —Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 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