French word

espionnage

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛspjonaʒ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounespionage

Example

L'espionnage est dangereux.

Espionage is dangerous.

Illustration for espionnage (espionage)

More examples

Les services d'espionnage travaillent souvent à l'étranger.

Intelligence services often work abroad.

Core concept

A hidden operation that gathers protected information by watching, entering, or intercepting communications.

Common phrases

  • services d'espionnage

    intelligence services

  • opération d'espionnage

    espionage operation

Similar words

renseignement: Secret information collected to guide decisions or protect security.
filature: Following a person to track their movements and contacts.
écoute: Secretly recording communications or conversations to learn their content.

Definition in French

Ensemble d'opérations secrètes visant à recueillir des renseignements pour un État, une organisation ou une entreprise par surveillance, infiltration ou interception.

Word origin

French formed espionnage from espion and the suffix -age, which commonly names an activity or process.

Usage tips

  • Espionnage is masculine, so the standard form is l'espionnage and not la espionnage.

Opposites

Related words

  • contre-espionnagecounterespionagenoun

Word lists with this word