n.
Pronunciation: ' es-p ē - ə - ˌ näzh, - ˌ näj, -nij, Canad also - ˌ nazh; ˌ es-p ē - ə - ' näzh; is- ' p ē - ə -nij
Function: noun
Etymology: French espionnage, from Middle French, from espionner to spy, from espion spy, from Old Italian spione, from spia, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German speh ō n to spy ― more at SPY
Date: 1793
: the practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or a competing company <industrial espionage >