Meaning of espionage in English
espionage
noun [ U ]
UKvolume_up
/ˈes.pi.ə.nɑːʒ/
USvolume_up
/ˈes.pi.ə.nɑːʒ/

the discovering of secrets, especially political or military information of another country or the industrial information of a business:

military/industrial espionage

espionage
noun [ U ]
USvolume_up
/ˈes·pi·əˌnɑʒ/

the discovering of a country’s or business organization’s secrets by using spies (= people who secretly gather information within a country or organization):

industrial espionage

espionage
noun [ U ]
UKvolume_up
/ˈespiənɑːʒ/
USvolume_up

the activity of secretly collecting and reporting information, especially secret political, military, business, or industrial information:

engage in/conduct/commit espionage Three people were also accused of engaging in espionage against a rival firm.

corporate/industrial/economic espionage