espionage
[ˈɛs.pi.ə.ˌnɑːʒ]
An espionage operation is a secret effort by one country or organization to gather information about another.
Espionage is often used in movies and books as an exciting plot point, but in real life it's usually not that glamorous. Governments and companies hire people to do research and gather information without being caught. This can be done in person, through hacking computers, or even by stealing documents. It's a bit like a game of cat and mouse – the spies try to get what they want without getting caught, while the other side tries to prevent it from happening.
How common is "espionage"?
Word espionage is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
noun
The act or process of learning secret information through clandestine means.
spying
Real examples of "espionage" in context
