шпио́н — meaning in English

English meaning

• agent noun A person who acts on behalf of another, especially in business or legal matters.
• ratfink noun Someone who betrays others by informing on them or spying, a traitor.
• spook noun A ghost or supernatural apparition.
• spy noun A person who secretly gathers information about others, often for a government or rival organization.

Senses

шпио́н is used for these senses in English:

• agent Someone who works for an intelligence agency: whether an officer or employee thereof or anyone else who agrees to help their efforts (for ideology, for money, as blackmailee, or otherwise).
• ratfink An informer or spy; a traitor. [from 1960s]
• spook (espionage, slang) An undercover agent, spy, or intelligence analyst.
• spy (espionage) A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).

agent — full definition

1. noun A person who acts on behalf of another, especially in business or legal matters.
2. noun A person who works, often secretly, for a government or intelligence organization.
3. noun A substance or force that produces an effect.

ratfink — full definition

1. noun Someone who betrays others by informing on them or spying, a traitor.
2. noun (informal) A thoroughly unpleasant or despicable person.
3. noun A worker who carries on working during a strike, against the strikers' wishes.

Related Russian words