Word Noun
sleeper agent
n.
countable
C1 Advanced
Definition
n.a spy who lives a normal life in another country for a long time. They do not do any spying until they are told to start their secret mission.
n.an espionage operative who is placed in a target country or organisation not to conduct immediate operations, but to establish a deep-cover identity for future activation.
Examples
“The sleeper agent lived as a quiet librarian for ten years.”
“After living as a suburban father for a decade, the sleeper agent received a coded message to begin his mission.”
“Intelligence agencies often struggle to identify the sleeper agent because their fabricated persona is indistinguishable from that of a law-abiding citizen with no suspicious connections.”
Usage
Typically used in the context of espionage or political thrillers.
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Updated