8 definitions found

Espionage ES'PIONAGE, n. The practice or employment of spies; the practice of watching the words and conduct of others and attempting to make discoveries, as spies or secret emissaries; the practice of watching others without being suspected, and giving intelligence of discoveries made.

espionage n 1: the systematic use of spies to get military or political secrets

espionage 1793, from Fr. espionnage, from M.Fr. espionner "to spy," from O.Fr. espion "spy," probably from a Gmc. source akin to O.H.G. spehon "spy."

espionage
n. the practice of spying or of using spies, esp. by governments.
Etymology: F espionnage f. espionner f. espion SPY

espionage Espionage is the activity of finding out the political, military, or industrial secrets of your enemies or rivals by using spies. (FORMAL) The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage. ...industrial espionage. = spying N-UNCOUNT see also counter-espionage

espionage ˌespɪəˈnɑ:ʒ n. the practice of spying or of using spies, esp. by governments. [F espionnage f. espionner f. espion SPY]

Espionage \Es"pi*o*nage\ (?; 277), n. [F. espionnage, fr. espionner to spy, fr. espion spy, OF. espie. See Espy.] The practice or employment of spies; the practice of watching the words and conduct of others, to make discoveries, as spies or secret emissaries; secret watching.

34 Moby Thesaurus words for "espionage": bugging, cloak-and-dagger work, counterespionage, counterintelligence, electronic surveillance, espial, following, intelligence, intelligence work, looking, lookout, military intelligence, note, notice, observance, observation, reconnaissance, regard, respect, secret police, secret service, shadowing, sleuthing, spying, stakeout, surveillance, tailing, trailing, viewing, watch, watching, wiretap, wiretapping, witnessing