Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering, as a subfield of the intelligence field, is the act of obtaining secret, confidential, or in some way valuable information.

Phrasal verb spy on someone/something (Definition of spying from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

The meaning of SPY is to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes. How to use spy in a sentence.

Espionage is defined as the act of spying or using spies, agents, assets, and intelligence officers, as well as technology, to collect secret information, usually through illegal means.

My coworker is a spy for the boss. They were accused of spying for a foreign government. They were accused of spying on a rival company. She spied [= caught sight of] a friend in the …

1. To engage in espionage. 2. To investigate or observe something, especially in secret: spying into the neighbor's activities.

/ˈspaɪɪŋ/ IPA guide Other forms: spyings Definitions of spying noun keeping a secret or furtive watch see more

Spies might seem like a throwback to earlier days of world wars and cold wars, but they are more common than ever—and they are targeting our nation’s most valuable secrets. The FBI is the …

Jun 16, 2025 · Discover 25 intriguing facts about the concept and history of spying, from ancient espionage tactics to modern intelligence operations.

The practice of spying has a long history, dating back to ancient times when spies were used for military and political purposes. Today, spying is often associated with intelligence agencies …