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espionage definition

es·pio·nage (es′pē ə näz̸h′, -näj′)

noun

  1. the act of spying
  2. the use of spies by a government to learn the military secrets of other nations
  3. ☆ the use of spies in industry or commerce to learn the secrets of other companies

Etymology: Fr espionnage < espionner, to spy < espion < It spione < spia, spy < Gmc *speha, akin to OHG spehon: see spy

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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