spy

[spahy]

noun

plural

spies 

1. 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.

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

3. 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.

4. the act of spying.

verb (used without object)

spied, spying 

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

2. to act as a spy; engage in espionage.

3. to be on the lookout; keep watch.

4. to search for or examine something closely or carefully.

verb (used with object)

spied, spying 

1. to catch sight of suddenly; espy; descry.

   to spy a rare bird overhead.

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

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

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

spy

/ spaɪ /

noun

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

2. a person who keeps secret watch on others

3. obsolete,  a close view

verb

1. to keep a secret or furtive watch (on)

2. (intr) to engage in espionage

3. (tr) to catch sight of; descry

Other Word Forms

• spyship noun
• outspy verb (used with object)
• superspy noun
• unspied adjective
• unspying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spy¹

First recorded in 1200–50; (for the verb) Middle English spien, shortened from espien, espyen “to espy” ( espy ); (for the noun) Middle English, shortened from espy “a spy,” from Old French espie

Word History and Origins

Origin of spy¹

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

Example Sentences

The guidance warns MPs they are a potential target for foreign spies, with China, Russia and Iran identified as particular risks to British institutions.

Read more on BBC

Jarvis said Britain's domestic MI5 spy service was issuing lawmakers and parliamentary staff with new guidance to protect them from possible foreign interference.

Read more on Barron's

The government is facing questions after a case against two men accused of spying for China collapsed, just weeks before the trial was due to go ahead.

Read more on BBC

Powell is facing pressure over what role he played in the collapsed court case against two men accused of spying for China.

Read more on BBC

The plan, heavily amended by Israel and presented to Hamas by the Qatari prime minister and Egypt’s spy chief, looked nothing like what Hayya had been led to expect, officials familiar with the discussions said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• agent 
• detective 
• informer 
• investigator www.thesaurus.com
• mole 
• operative 
• secret agent 
• secret service 
• undercover agent www.thesaurus.com