counterintelligence

[koun-ter-in-tel-i-juhns]

noun

1. the activity of an intelligence service employed in thwarting the efforts of an enemy's intelligence agents to gather information or commit sabotage. CI

2. an organization engaged in counterintelligence. CI

counterintelligence

/ ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns /

noun

1. activities designed to frustrate enemy espionage

2. intelligence collected about enemy espionage

Word History and Origins

Origin of counterintelligence¹

First recorded in 1935–40; counter- + intelligence

Example Sentences

“If you threaten the workforce with dismissal, you are going to kill initiative,” said Frank Montoya, a longtime FBI counterintelligence agent who retired from the bureau in 2016.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A blowup of the film found inside the coin arrived at the desk of Robert Lamphere, an FBI counterintelligence agent in Washington, D.C.

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The man appeared in court this week and was detained without bail while a pre-trial investigation was being conducted by the SBU with support from counterintelligence units.

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Intelligence operatives working with Cuban counterintelligence agents reward those who betray conspirators with jobs, money, cars and even homes, said Edward Rodríguez, a former army colonel who fled Venezuela and lives in exile.

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Alternatively, O’Neill explains that secret government counterintelligence programs at the time were intent on discrediting left-wing political movements such as the Black Panthers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times