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.
Synonyms: spying, intelligence, surveillance, counter-intelligence More Synonyms of espionage
2. See also counter-espionage
espionage in British English
(ˈɛspɪəˌnɑːʒ, ˌɛspɪəˈnɑːʒ, ˈɛspɪənɪdʒ)
noun
1.
the systematic use of spies to obtain secret information, esp by governments to discover military or political secrets
2.
the act or practice of spying
Word origin
C18: from French espionnage, from espionner to spy, from espion spy, from Old Italian spione, of Germanic origin; compare German spähen to spy
espionage in American English
(ˈɛspiəˌnɑʒ; ˈɛspiəˌnɑdʒ)
noun
1.
the act of spying
2.
the use of spies by a government to learn the military secrets of other nations
3. US
the use of spies in industry or commerce to learn the secrets of other companies
Word origin
Fr espionnage < espionner, to spy < espion < It spione < spia, spy < Gmc *speha, akin to OHG spehon: see spy
Examples of 'espionage' in a sentence
espionage
The report also uncovered other alarming attitudes towards international cyber espionage.
Computing (2010)
The vast majority of web criminality directed at companies involves attacks on intellectual property and industrial espionage.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This is the tall price to be paid for involvement in the murky world of international espionage.
The Sun (2015)
The scandal of industrial espionage was bad enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Another concerns the use of espionage in international politics.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That it was a rare glimpse into the shadowy world of international espionage makes it all the more seductive.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The next stage up is industrial espionage, apparently the most lucrative.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And with industrial espionage now being mooted as a possible motive, the plot is thickening.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
US officials are searching for ways to extradite him on espionage charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She was taken before a judge and charged with espionage and illegal entry, but told she was being freed on humanitarian grounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They were charged with espionage and faced 20-year prison terms but after six weeks the charges were reduced and they were released pending appeals.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Mobile phones have changed espionage thrillers more than all the WMD in the evil world.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
EURO 2012 is suddenly the setting for international espionage.
The Sun (2012)
He would face espionage charges in the US.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A spokesman for its judiciary said in February that most of its detained dual nationals face espionage charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Industrial espionage is endemic.
The Sun (2013)
He was charged last year with three counts under the espionage act, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is already the subject of a French judicial investigation into corrupt practices, thanks to a whistleblower who has detailed bribery and industrial espionage allegations.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
espionage
British English: espionage /ˈɛspɪəˌnɑːʒ; ˌɛspɪəˈnɑːʒ/ NOUN
Espionage is the activity of finding out the political, military, or industrial secrets of your enemies or rivals by using spies.
The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage.
American English: espionage
Arabic: جَاسُوسِيَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: espionagem
Chinese: 间谍
Croatian: špijunaža
Czech: špionáž
Danish: spionage
Dutch: spionage
European Spanish: espionaje
Finnish: vakoilu
French: espionnage
German: Spionage
Greek: κατασκοπεία
Italian: spionaggio
Japanese: スパイ行為
Korean: 첩보 활동
Norwegian: spionasje
Polish: szpiegostwo
European Portuguese: espionagem
Romanian: spionaj
Russian: шпионаж
Latin American Spanish: espionaje
Swedish: spionage
Thai: จารกรรม
Turkish: casusluk
Ukrainian: шпигунство
Vietnamese: hoạt động gián điệp
Chinese translation of 'espionage'
espionage
(ˈɛspɪənɑːʒ) (Pol) (Mil) (Comm)
n(u)
间(間)谍(諜)活动(動) (jiàndié huódòng)
(noun)
Definition
the act of spying
The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage.
Synonyms
spying
a ten-year sentence for spying
intelligence
Why was military intelligence so lacking?
surveillance
counter-intelligence
undercover work
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intelligence
Definition
the collection of secret information, esp. for military purposes