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
One founding American who did not share his age’s discomfort with espionage was George Washington.
—
James Santel, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
Marshall argues that TikTok and ByteDance are engaged in espionage by exploiting personal information, especially data belonging to minors.
—Jennifer Lindahl, USA Today, 6 May 2025
Following a brief spell on the sidelines after surgery, Lock Stock and Harry Potter actor Nick Moran is already back in the saddle and has joined the cast of Brit espionage thriller Knightfall, alongside Ian Ogilvy, Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott, Michael Paré and Roger Moore’s son Geoffrey Moore.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
Taiwan has prosecuted a series of espionage cases in recent years, including within its military and the ranks of the ruling party.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for espionage
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James Santel, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
Marshall argues that TikTok and ByteDance are engaged in espionage by exploiting personal information, especially data belonging to minors.
—Jennifer Lindahl, USA Today, 6 May 2025
Following a brief spell on the sidelines after surgery, Lock Stock and Harry Potter actor Nick Moran is already back in the saddle and has joined the cast of Brit espionage thriller Knightfall, alongside Ian Ogilvy, Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott, Michael Paré and Roger Moore’s son Geoffrey Moore.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
Taiwan has prosecuted a series of espionage cases in recent years, including within its military and the ranks of the ruling party.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for espionage
Cite this Entry
“Espionage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/espionage. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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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