reconnaissance

noun

re·​con·​nais·​sance ri-ˈkä-nə-zən(t)s How to pronounce reconnaissance (audio)
-sən(t)s
: a preliminary survey to gain information
especially : an exploratory military survey of enemy territory

Examples of reconnaissance in a Sentence

There are two helicopters available for reconnaissance. They did a reconnaissance of the enemy's position.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis began when a U.S. U-2 reconnaissance aircraft captured photographic evidence of Soviet medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba. Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024 The first defensive measures to appear in Russian reconnaissance drones were small backward-facing cameras. David Hambling, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 The Mars reconnaissance orbiter, with a wingspan the length of a school bus, cost more than $700 million. Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2024 China’s launch rockets, global navigation satellite system capabilities, satellite communications, missile warning systems, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance continue to improve. Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reconnaissance 

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, recognition, from Middle French reconoissance, from Old French reconoistre to recognize

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reconnaissance was in 1779

Dictionary Entries Near reconnaissance

Cite this Entry

“Reconnaissance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconnaissance. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

reconnaissance

noun
re·​con·​nais·​sance ri-ˈkän-ə-zən(t)s How to pronounce reconnaissance (audio)
: a survey (as of enemy territory) to gain information
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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