espionage
noun
es·pi·o·nage
ˈe-spē-ə-ˌnäzh 
-ˌnäj
-ˌnäj
-nij
Canadian also -ˌnazh;
ˌe-spē-ə-ˈnäzh;
i-ˈspē-ə-nij
: the practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or a competing company
industrial espionage
Examples of espionage in a Sentence
He was charged with several counts of espionage.
the acts of espionage on behalf of the Confederacy carried on by Belle Boyd and Rose Greenhow
Recent Examples on the Web
In her statement, the foreign minister said that Austria was currently tightening the espionage law to prevent such cases.
—
ABC News, 4 May 2026
Though the concept comes from the world of espionage, the actual term appears to stem from Tom Clancy’s 1980s thriller, Patriot Games.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 4 May 2026
Iran has hanged more than a dozen people over alleged espionage and terrorist activities in recent weeks.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
As a protective measure, the White House might ask AI companies to increase their security practices to prevent espionage and exfiltration of the most capable versions of the technology (consider that a handful of unauthorized users have reportedly gained access to Mythos).
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for espionage
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ABC News, 4 May 2026
Though the concept comes from the world of espionage, the actual term appears to stem from Tom Clancy’s 1980s thriller, Patriot Games.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 4 May 2026
Iran has hanged more than a dozen people over alleged espionage and terrorist activities in recent weeks.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
As a protective measure, the White House might ask AI companies to increase their security practices to prevent espionage and exfiltration of the most capable versions of the technology (consider that a handful of unauthorized users have reportedly gained access to Mythos).
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for espionage
Cite this Entry
“Espionage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/espionage. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
espionage
noun
es·pi·o·nage
ˈes-pē-ə-ˌnäzh
-näj
-näj
-ˌnij
: the practice of spying : the use of spies
Legal Definition
espionage
noun
es·pi·o·nage
ˈes-pē-ə-ˌnäzh, -ˌnäj, -nij
: the practice of gathering, transmitting, or losing through gross negligence information relating to the defense of the U.S. with the intent that or with reason to believe that the information will be used to the injury of the U.S. or the advantage of a foreign nation
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