# spook

/ˈspuk/ (US) · /spˈuːk/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spook
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

a person who works for a secret government agency, like the police or the military. It is a short, informal way to say 'spy'.

For teachers: a person who works for a secret government agency, particularly in the context of intelligence or law enforcement. Informal and often considered vulgar in certain professional circles.

## Examples

- He used to be a spook for the government.
- The retired spook shared some interesting stories about his time working undercover in foreign countries.
- While the former spook was reluctant to speak publicly, he eventually agreed to testify before the committee regarding the security breach.

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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.