listening post

American  

noun

1. Military. a post or position, as in advance of a defensive line, established for the purpose of listening to detect the enemy's movements.

2. any foreign country or city viewed as a source of intelligence about an enemy or rival nation or one that is a potential enemy.

3. any concealed position maintained to obtain information.

   The government had listening posts to keep informed of revolutionary activities.

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listening post British  

noun

1. LP. military a forward position set up to obtain early warning of enemy movement

2. any strategic position or place for obtaining information about another country or area

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Etymology

Origin of listening post

First recorded in 1915–20

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

listening post

From the rise and fall of the signal’s pitch as the satellite passed overhead, the scientists could reconstruct the entire orbit from a listening post.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

More controversial, according to two former government officials, Nunes tried to use his junior perch on the Intelligence Committee to install a National Security Agency listening post at Lajes.

From New York Times ● Apr. 24, 2018

He also spent countless, monotonous hours gathering intelligence at a listening post about sinister figures who lurked in the shadows and closely monitored the movements of Border Patrol agents.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 9, 2018

The mural, located about three miles from government listening post GCHQ, has been daubed with white paint, sprayed with silver and red graffiti, and had people trying to steal it.

From BBC ● Jan. 8, 2016

Kappe had been impressed with Dasch, and when he heard Dasch was dissatisfied with his job at the listening post less than six months later, he called him back to his office in November 1941.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

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