industrial espionage

American  

noun

1. the stealing of technological or commercial research data, blueprints, plans, etc., as by a person in the hire of a competing company.

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industrial espionage British  

noun

1. attempting to obtain trade secrets by dishonest means, as by telephone- or computer-tapping, infiltration of a competitor's workforce, etc

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Etymology

Origin of industrial espionage

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Thanks to some daring industrial espionage, the steam engine finally got into American hands, and offered investors opportunities in mills, foundries, canals, and especially railroads.

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

The report even suggests a unique identifier could be added to each chip to prevent industrial espionage and "chip smuggling."

From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 2024

He is the first person to be charged under federal laws created in 2018 that ban covert foreign interference in domestic politics and make industrial espionage for a foreign power a crime.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 17, 2023

The US and many other countries have been concerned about industrial espionage and have jailed people accused of stealing tech secrets for China.

From BBC • May 21, 2023

The Bureau takes an interest in high-profile intellectual-property theft cases, industrial espionage and theft of trade secrets.

From The Hacker Crackdown, law and disorder on the electronic frontier by Sterling, Bruce