reconnaissance Definition
re·con·nais·sance (ri kän′ə səns, -zəns)
noun
an exploratory survey or examination, as in seeking out information about enemy positions or installations, or as in making a preliminary geologic or engineering survey
Etymology: Fr, earlier reconnoissance: see recognizance
reconnaissance Synonyms
reconnaissance Usage Examples
Converse of object
- conduct: The armored cavalry regiment is of adequate size to conduct a reconnaissance in force.
- perform: The squadron or troop performs route reconnaissance of the designated route or routes for the movement.
Adjective modifier
- aerial: Most of the aircraft lost on the Western Front on both sides were involved in aerial reconnaissance over enemy lines.
- tactical: Special Operations Forces and tactical air reconnaissance complemented these efforts.
- maritime: It is home to 744 and 848 Squadrons, who are responsible for maritime reconnaissance and SAR coverage along the Eastern coast of India.
- photographic: Here a special camera is being taken into an aircraft before it departs on a photographic reconnaissance.
- thorough: Training exercises should stress the importance of a thorough map reconnaissance to evaluate the terrain.
- preliminary: Several members of the expedition made a preliminary reconnaissance in ordinary clothes.
Modifies a noun
- sortie: Numerous reconnaissance sorties were flown over the Aegean to track enemy shipping.
- mission: The Predator drone aircraft was on a reconnaissance mission, the Pentagon said.
- aircraft: Just in time for the Great War the reconnaissance aircraft appeared on the scene.
- drone: It would be the second time in a month that Iraqi defenses had brought down one of the American reconnaissance drones.
- squadron: The bases include a naval station and an RAF military airfield, and garrison troops, infantry battalion and reconnaissance squadron units.
- platoon: At the start of the game each side may allocate one reconnaissance platoon to infiltration via the sewers.
Noun used with modifier
- RAF: The ship had been spotted by RAF reconnaissance planes and Ursula informed of her course.
- zone: Zone reconnaissance may be oriented on the main body's zone of action or an axis of advance.
- enemy: They also used technical means to avoid enemy reconnaissance.
- altitude: Early 1942 was relatively calm, apart from some high altitude reconnaissance flights by British and US aircraft.
- route: Route reconnaissance may orient on a road or on an axis of advance.
- air: An air cavalry troop may be assigned an air route reconnaissance mission.
Browse dictionary entries near reconnaissance
- ‹ recondition
- ‹ recondite
- ‹ reconciliation
- ‹ reconciled
- ‹ reconcile
- ‹ reconcilable
- ‹ recon
- ‹ recompose
- ‹ recompense
- ‹ recommit

