reconnaissance

Or re·con·nois·sance

[ri-kon-uh-suhns, -zuhns]

noun

1. the act of reconnoitering.

2. Military.,  a search made for useful military information in the field, especially by examining the ground.

3. Surveying, Civil Engineering.,  a general examination or survey of a region, usually followed by a detailed survey.

4. Geology.,  an examination or survey of the general geological characteristics of a region.

reconnaissance

/ rɪˈkɒnɪsəns /

noun

1. the act of reconnoitring

2. the process of obtaining information about the position, activities, resources, etc, of an enemy or potential enemy

3. a preliminary inspection of an area of land before an engineering survey is made

Word History and Origins

Origin of reconnaissance¹

1800–10; < French; Middle French reconoissance recognizance

Word History and Origins

Origin of reconnaissance¹

C18: from French, from Old French reconoistre to explore, _recognize

Example Sentences

The U.S. military said in late September that it had permanently stationed MQ-9 reaper drones in South Korea to support surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It is alleged they "arranged for the purchase and delivery of firearms, conducted reconnaissance and made plans of attack".

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The charge against them which they deny alleges they "arranged for the purchase and delivery of firearms, conducted reconnaissance and made plans of attack".

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"Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness," Poland's operational command said in a post on X.

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Ukraine is also a candidate to join the EU, but is facing hardening opposition from Hungary and tensions along their shared border, after Kyiv accused Budapest of sending reconnaissance drones into western Ukraine.

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Related Words

• exploration 
• surveillance