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counterintelligence

KOWN-ter-in-TEL-i-jens /ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns/

nounC2GRE

formal

Activities designed to prevent hostile or enemy intelligence organizations from gathering information.

Counterintelligence is the defensive side of intelligence work. It's about protecting one's own secrets and operations from foreign spies, often involving identifying and neutralizing enemy agents.

The story behind the word. The word 'counterintelligence' is a compound of 'counter-' (from Latin 'contra,' meaning 'against') and 'intelligence' (from Latin 'intellegentia,' meaning 'understanding' or 'knowledge'). It literally means 'against intelligence,' referring to the activities undertaken to thwart the intelligence efforts of an adversary. This term gained prominence in the early 20th century as nations formalized their intelligence and security agencies.

Word relationships

security: Broader term, includes physical and digital protection.
defense: General term for protecting against threats.

espionage: The act of spying (the offensive counterpart).
intelligence gathering: The broader act of collecting information (can be offensive).

Commonly confused with

intelligence: 'Intelligence' is the broader term for collected information and the agencies that collect it. 'Counterintelligence' is a specific branch focused on protecting one's own intelligence from adversaries.

Collocations

counterintelligence operations
counterintelligence agency
military counterintelligence
conduct counterintelligence
counterintelligence efforts

Example sentences

"The primary goal of the counterintelligence division was to safeguard national secrets from foreign espionage." The agency's counterintelligence unit uncovered a mole within their ranks.
"Developing robust counterintelligence capabilities is essential for any nation facing sophisticated external threats." Effective counterintelligence is vital for national security.
"His expertise in counterintelligence allowed him to anticipate and neutralize several attempts at information theft." He spent his career working in counterintelligence, protecting state secrets.

Memory hook

Think 'COUNTER' (against) 'INTELLIGENCE' – it's the fight against enemy intelligence. Against enemy intel.

When not to use

Do not use 'counterintelligence' to refer to general security measures or offensive intelligence gathering. It specifically targets the intelligence activities of adversaries.

Fun facts

Many national intelligence agencies, like the CIA or MI6, have dedicated counterintelligence departments.

Related words

disinformation, mole

Explore more words

counterterrorism, Countermeasure, counterinsurgency, surveillance, Interceptor, counterattack