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Definition of espionage

espionage

/ˈɛs.pi.əˌnɑːʒ/
es · pi · o · nage
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espionage Lexical Profile

espionage Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The practice of spying or using spies, typically by governments or rival corporations, to obtain secret political, military, or commercial information.

Example

"The former executive was arrested on charges of industrial espionage after transferring proprietary designs to a competitor."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for espionage

• Rhymes for espionage

• Nearby Words

especial
especially
esperanto
espionage
esplanade
esport
esports

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 18th century from French espionnage, from espionner ('to spy'), derived from Italian spione ('spy'), which ultimately traces back to a Germanic root meaning 'to look at' or 'observe'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Espionage. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/espionage
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