reconnaissance

American  

[ri-kon-uh-suhns, -zuhns] / rɪˈkɒn ə səns, -zəns /

Or reconnoissance

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 British  

/ 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

---

Etymology

Origin of reconnaissance

1800–10; < French; Middle French reconoissance recognizance

Example Sentences

Over the weekend, a small French military contingent travelled to Greenland as part of a so-called reconnaissance mission.

From BBC

Several European states sent small numbers of military personnel to Greenland in a so-called reconnaissance mission.

From BBC

France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK have dispatched a small number of troops to Greenland in a so-called reconnaissance mission.

From BBC

The two-day visit comes alongside a European show of support in the form of a military reconnaissance mission to Greenland.

From Barron's

To this end, several countries including France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK have sent a limited number of troops to Greenland in a so-called reconnaissance mission.

From BBC

Related Words

• exploration
• surveillance