/ rɪˈkɒnɪsns; NAmE -ˈkɑːn-/ (also BrE informal recce ) (also US informal recon ) noun
[ C , U ] the activity of getting information about an area for military purposes, using soldiers, planes, etc. :
to make an aerial reconnaissance of the island
Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted.
a reconnaissance aircraft / mission / satellite
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WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent.: from French , from reconnaître recognize, from Latin recognoscere know again, from re- again + cognoscere learn.