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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 © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business espionage definition - business

hacker Espionage definition - hacker

espionage Synonyms

espionage

n.

spying, undercover work, reconnaissance, surveillance; see spying.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

espionage Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • commit: The couple were charged with conspiracy to commit espionage.

Preposition: on

  • behalf: Many were tortured to force them to confess to crimes such as treason or espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union.

Adjective modifier

  • industrial: E-mail may also be an ideal medium for industrial espionage.

Modifies a noun

  • thriller: Krasnoyarsk Surely worthy of the opening chapter of a cold war espionage thriller.

Noun used with modifier

  • computer: The bestseller The Cuckoo's Egg described a recent computer espionage attempt.
espionage usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

espionage quotes

There is no place where espionage is not possible.

-SunTzu

espionage quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"espionage." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/espionage>

APA Style

espionage. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/espionage

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