counterintelligence

noun

coun·​ter·​in·​tel·​li·​gence ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s How to pronounce counterintelligence (audio)
: organized activity of an intelligence service designed to block an enemy's sources of information, to deceive the enemy, to prevent sabotage, and to gather political and military information

Examples of counterintelligence in a Sentence

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.
Memos authored by House Republicans and Democrats, which have been declassified, showed that information about Papadopoulos’ contacts with Russian intermediaries triggered the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation in July 2016 of potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025 Related article China says a foreign consultant was found to be spying for Britain’s MI6 China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), which oversees intelligence and counterintelligence both within China and overseas, has also previously accused Taiwan of conducting spying activities. Eric Cheung, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025 Jay Bratt, a counterintelligence prosecutor and a key member of the classified documents team, retired on Friday, after 34 years of service. Alan Feuer, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025 Bratt, a 34-year federal prosecutor and former head of the Justice Department's counterintelligence section, played a key role in the origins of the classified documents probe and went on to prosecute the case against Trump as part of Smith's team. Robert Legare, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for counterintelligence 

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterintelligence was in 1940

Dictionary Entries Near counterintelligence

Cite this Entry

“Counterintelligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintelligence. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

counterintelligence

noun
coun·​ter·​in·​tel·​li·​gence ˌkau̇nt-ə-rin-ˈtel-ə-jən(t)s How to pronounce counterintelligence (audio)
: activities of an intelligence service meant to hide the truth from an enemy or to prevent the enemy from learning secret information

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