spy

[ spahy ]

/ spaɪ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural spies.

a person employed by a government to obtain secret information or intelligence about another, usually hostile, country, especially with reference to military or naval affairs.

a person who keeps close and secret watch on the actions and words of another or others.

a person who seeks to obtain confidential information about the activities, plans, methods, etc., of an organization or person, especially one who is employed for this purpose by a competitor: an industrial spy.

the act of spying.

verb (used without object), spied, spy·ing.

to observe secretively or furtively with hostile intent (often followed by on or upon).

to act as a spy; engage in espionage.

to be on the lookout; keep watch.

to search for or examine something closely or carefully.

verb (used with object), spied, spy·ing.

to catch sight of suddenly; espy; descry: to spy a rare bird overhead.

to discover or find out by observation or scrutiny (often followed by out).

to observe (a person, place, enemy, etc.) secretively or furtively with hostile intent.

to inspect or examine or to search or look for closely or carefully.

Nearby words

sputter, sputtering, sputteringly, sputum, spuyten duyvil creek, spies, spy on, spy out, spy wednesday, spyglass, spyhole

Origin of spy

1200–50; (v.) Middle English spien, aphetic variant of espien to espy; (noun) Middle English, aphetic variant of espy a spy < Old French espie

Related forms

spy·ship, nounout·spy, verb (used with object), out·spied, out·spy·ing.su·per·spy, noun, plural su·per·spies.un·spied, adjective

un·spy·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for spies

Current and former intelligence officials have said North Korea has long been a priority target for American spies.
Was Sony Hit With a Second Hack?|Shane Harris|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
American spies have detailed dossiers on the North Koreans who the U.S. says were behind the Sony attack.
U.S. Spies Say They Tracked ‘Sony Hackers’ For Years|Shane Harris|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The U.S. got a relatively good deal—three Cuban spies were returned to their country in the swap.
Up To Speed: The Cuba Embargo|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gross and an unnamed American intelligence agent were freed Wednesday in exchange for three Cuban spies.
Cuba Protects America’s Most Wanted|Michael Daly|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

U.S. spies are worried the long-awaited Senate review will paint targets on their backs.
CIA Offers New Security Checks for ‘Torture Report’ Spies|Shane Harris, Kimberly Dozier|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Why, she cannot leave her home at any time, without being dogged by your spies.
An Artist in Crime|Rodrigues Ottolengui
Their spies and sympathisers kept them fully informed of all the steps taken.
History of the War in South Africa 1899-1902 v. 1 (of 4)|Sir Frederick Maurice.
Accordingly, two spies were despatched to ascertain the probability of success.
Life of Sir William Wallace of Elderslie, Vol. I (of II)|John D. Carrick
If you are not I shall set sail without you, for I have seen some of the Chilian spies around today.
Jack North's Treasure Hunt|Roy Rockwood
There were checks and spies in all directions, and the process of destruction was carried on with great parade.
Narrative of the Voyages and Services of the Nemesis from 1840 to 1843|William Hutcheon Hall

British Dictionary definitions for spies

spy

/ (spaɪ) /

noun plural spies

a person employed by a state or institution to obtain secret information from rival countries, organizations, companies, etc

a person who keeps secret watch on others

obsolete a close view

verb spies, spying or spied

(intr usually foll by on) to keep a secret or furtive watch (on)

(intr) to engage in espionage

(tr) to catch sight of; descry

Word Origin for spy

C13 spien, from Old French espier, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German spehōn, Middle Dutch spien

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for spies (1 of 2)

spy

mid-13c., from Old French espier "to spy," probably from Frankish *spehon, from Proto-Germanic *spekh- (cf. Old High German *spehon "to look out for, scout, spy," German spähen "to spy," Middle Dutch spien), the Germanic survivals of the productive PIE root *spek- "to look" (see scope (n.1)).

Word Origin and History for spies (1 of 2)

spy

mid-13c., "one who spies on another," From Old French espie, probably from a Germanic source (see spy (v.)).

spy

noun, plural spies.

verb (used without object), spied, spy·ing.

verb (used with object), spied, spy·ing.

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Nearby words

Origin of spy

Examples from the Web for spies

British Dictionary definitions for spies

spy

noun plural spies

verb spies, spying or spied

Word Origin for spy

Word Origin and History for spies (1 of 2)

spy

Word Origin and History for spies (1 of 2)

spy