# reconnaissance

/ɹiˈkɑnəsəns/ (US) · /ɹɪkˈɒnɪsəns/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reconnaissance
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

the act of going to a place to get information, usually about an enemy or a new area. You use this when you need to check a situation before taking action.

For teachers: the process of obtaining information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or the physical characteristics of a particular area. Often involves preliminary surveying or research before a larger operation.

## Examples

- The team did some reconnaissance before starting the project.
- The scouts performed a quick reconnaissance of the valley to ensure no obstacles blocked the path for the main group.
- Satellite reconnaissance provides high-resolution imagery that allows analysts to monitor infrastructure developments without the need for physical presence in restricted territories.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They made a reconnaissance about the area" but "They did reconnaissance on the area" — Reconnaissance is typically paired with the verbs 'do', 'perform', or 'carry out', and takes the preposition 'on' or 'of'.

## Usage notes

- Often used in military or technical contexts; frequently appears in the shortened informal form 'recon'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.