Espionage Meaning
/ˈɛs.pi.əˌnɑːʒ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe act or process of learning secret information through clandestine means.
Sentence Examples
Tom wasn't put in jail for espionage.
The suspect committed an act of industrial espionage.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The novel is a thrilling account of international ____ during the Cold War.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The spy was arrested and charged with ____ after stealing secret military plans.
Word Origin & History
Recorded since 1793, from French espionnage, from espionner (“to spy”), from Middle French espionner (“to spy”), from espion (“spy”), from Old French espion (“spy”), from Frankish *spehō (“spy”), from Frankish *spehōn (“to spy”), from Proto-Germanic *spehōną (“to spy, peek, peer”). In modern times, the French pronunciation of the s, which had fallen silent since the 13th century, was restored due to the influence of Italian spione (“spy”), and was therefore also adopted by the English. More at spy.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"So intolerable did Heavy Benson's espionage become, that Raynham would have grown depopulated of its womankind had not Adrian interfered, who pointed out to the Baronet what a fearful arm his butler was wielding."
— 1859, George Meredith, chapter 16, in The Ordeal of Richard Feverel. A History of Father and Son. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC:
"What a freak show! I mean, how often do you meet a wrestling librarian?
Yeah, about as often as you meet a high schoolgirl involved in international espionage… Okay, bad example."
— 2003 June 20, Joseph Purdy, “Totally Switched”, in Totally Spies!, season 2, episode 19, spoken by Alexandra “Alex” (Andrea Taylor as Clover and Katie Leigh), Marathon Media, via Teletoon:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The novel is a thrilling account of international ____ during the Cold War.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The spy was arrested and charged with ____ after stealing secret military plans.