# spying

/ˈspaɪɪŋ/ (US) · /spˈaɪɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spying
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. espionage

noun · CEFR B2

the act of secretly watching someone or gathering private information about a country or company.

For teachers: the systematic practice of espionage or gathering secret intelligence, often for political or military purposes.

- The government was accused of spying on its own citizens during the protests.
- Industrial spying has become a major concern for tech firms as they race to protect their latest patents from international competitors.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'on' to indicate the target of the activity.

## Examples

- He was arrested for spying on the government.
- The company was accused of industrial spying after a former employee leaked their secret designs to a rival.
- While traditional spying once relied heavily on human intelligence and physical infiltration, modern espionage is increasingly dominated by sophisticated cyber operations and satellite surveillance.

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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.