ˈespēəˌnäzh, -_nij, -ˌnȧzh, ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈnäzh, ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈnȧzh also ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌnäj or ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌnȧj or ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈnäj or ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈnȧj or ə̇ˈspēənij or eˈspē- sometimes ə̇ˈspēəˌnä]zh or eˈspē- or -nȧ] or ]j or -ˈspīənij chiefly substand |espə̇(|)n-\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: French espionnage, from Middle French, from espionner to spy (from espion spy, from Old Italian spione, aug. of spia, of Germanic origin) + -age; akin to Old High German spehōn to spy — more at spy
: the practice of spying : the systematic secret observation of words and conduct ; especially : such spying by special agents upon people of a foreign country or upon their activities or enterprises (as war production or scientific advancement in military fields) and the accumulation of information about such people, activities, and enterprises for political or military uses