spy

The word “spy” means a person who secretly gathers information about others, often for a government or rival organization. In plain terms, someone who secretly watches or collects information, or the act of doing so; can also just mean to spot something.

“Spy” is pronounced speye (/spaɪ/ in IPA).

Here is “spy” used in a sentence: “The novel follows a Cold War spy working undercover in Berlin.”

Words with a similar meaning to “spy” include espial, espy, ghost, intelligencer, secret agent and spook.

Depending on how it is used, “spy” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “spy” comes from Old French. From Old French espier, "to spy," from a Frankish root meaning "to look" or "to see" — related to modern German spähen.

“Spy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Spy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who secretly gathers information about others, often for a government or rival organization.

A "spy" secretly gathers information about others, often for a government or rival organisation, and works undercover. A "detective" investigates crimes or gathers facts, often openly and within the law. The spy's work depends on secrecy and disguise.

A "spy" is anyone who secretly collects information. A "mole" is a specific kind of spy who is planted inside an organisation, appears loyal to it, but secretly works for another side. Every mole is a spy, but not every spy is a mole.

"Spy" and "secret agent" both describe someone who secretly gathers intelligence, and they are often used interchangeably. "Secret agent" tends to sound more formal or dramatic, while "spy" is the plainer, everyday word.

The verb "spy" is usually followed by "on" when it takes an object, as in "They spied on their neighbours." "Spy on someone" means to secretly watch or gather information about them. Without "on," "spy" can also mean simply to catch sight of something.