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 The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the U.S. was holding preliminary talks about positioning American reconnaissance drones at airfields in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Benin. Rachel Chason and Michael Birnbaum The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 26 Feb. 2024 While existing drones offer reconnaissance and counter-UAS capabilities, heavy-lift drones present a new frontier with multi-mission potential. Amir Emadi, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The drones are considered to be a comparatively inexpensive platform for doing surveillance and reconnaissance at sea. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024 Russian and Ukrainian forces are increasingly using these first-person–view drones, combined with other low-tier drones used for reconnaissance and targeting, to suppress opposing forces. Paul Lushenko, The Conversation, 16 Feb. 2024 Wood made Carpenter his personal reconnaissance pilot. Alan Miller, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024 The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the United States was holding preliminary talks about positioning American reconnaissance drones at airfields in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Benin. Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024 The craft also is expected to serve as a reconnaissance platform. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 Even so, reconnaissance experts say regulators should wake up before its spacecraft start taking their first close-ups. William J. Broad, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reconnaissance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 18 Mar. 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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