TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
CONTRE-ESPIONNAGE [12 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2023-02-28
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Intelligence (Military)
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- military intelligence
1, record 1, English, military%20intelligence
correct, NATO, standardized
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
- MI 2, record 1, English, MI
correct, NATO, standardized
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Military intelligence comprises strategic intelligence, combat intelligence and counter-intelligence. It is essential to the preparation and execution of military policies, plans and operations. 3, record 1, English, - military%20intelligence
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
military intelligence; MI: designations standardized by NATO. 4, record 1, English, - military%20intelligence
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Renseignement (Militaire)
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- renseignement militaire
1, record 1, French, renseignement%20militaire
correct, masculine noun, NATO, standardized
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Le renseignement militaire englobe le renseignement stratégique, le renseignement tactique et le contre-espionnage. Il est essentiel à la préparation et à l'exécution des politiques, des plans et des opérations militaires. 2, record 1, French, - renseignement%20militaire
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
renseignement militaire : désignation normalisée par l’OTAN. 3, record 1, French, - renseignement%20militaire
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Inteligencia (militar)
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- inteligencia militar
1, record 1, Spanish, inteligencia%20militar
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Se entiende por inteligencia militar el conjunto de acciones dirigidas a la obtención y análisis de información adecuada para la producción y difusión de inteligencia relevante y oportuna, que proporcione a los mandos y autoridades correspondientes, a las estructuras operativas propias y aliadas, y a los diferentes órganos de planeamiento, los elementos de juicio necesarios para la toma de decisiones en todo lo relacionado con el planeamiento y empleo de las Fuerzas Armadas, en situaciones de paz, crisis o conflicto. 1, record 1, Spanish, - inteligencia%20militar
Record 2 - internal organization data 2019-11-15
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Counter-Measures (Military operations)
- Intelligence (Military)
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- counter-espionage
1, record 2, English, counter%2Despionage
correct, NATO, standardized
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- counterespionage 2, record 2, English, counterespionage
correct
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
An action designed to detect and counteract espionage. 1, record 2, English, - counter%2Despionage
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
counter-espionage: designation and definition standardized by NATO. 3, record 2, English, - counter%2Despionage
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Contre-mesures (Opérations militaires)
- Renseignement (Militaire)
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- contre-espionnage
1, record 2, French, contre%2Despionnage
correct, masculine noun, NATO, standardized
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Action ayant pour but de détecter l’espionnage et de s’y opposer. 1, record 2, French, - contre%2Despionnage
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
contre-espionnage : désignation et définition normalisées par l'OTAN. 2, record 2, French, - contre%2Despionnage
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Contramedidas (Operaciones militares)
- Inteligencia (militar)
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- contraespionaje
1, record 2, Spanish, contraespionaje
masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Acción diseñada para detectar y contrarrestar el espionaje. 1, record 2, Spanish, - contraespionaje
Record 3 - internal organization data 2019-02-28
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Units (Regular Force, Armed Forces)
- Intelligence (Military)
- Counter-Measures (Military operations)
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- National Counter-Intelligence Unit
1, record 3, English, National%20Counter%2DIntelligence%20Unit
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
- NCIU 1, record 3, English, NCIU
correct
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
National Counter-Intelligence Unit; NCIU: designations to be used by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 2, record 3, English, - National%20Counter%2DIntelligence%20Unit
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Unités (régulières, Forces armées)
- Renseignement (Militaire)
- Contre-mesures (Opérations militaires)
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- Unité nationale de contre-espionnage
1, record 3, French, Unit%C3%A9%20nationale%20de%20contre%2Despionnage
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
- UNCE 1, record 3, French, UNCE
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Unité nationale de contre-espionnage; UNCE : désignations d’usage obligatoire par le ministère de la Défense nationale et les Forces canadiennes. 2, record 3, French, - Unit%C3%A9%20nationale%20de%20contre%2Despionnage
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2016-08-19
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Police
- National and International Security
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- counter-espionage officer
1, record 4, English, counter%2Despionage%20officer
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Police
- Sécurité nationale et internationale
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- agent de contre-espionnage
1, record 4, French, agent%20de%20contre%2Despionnage
correct, masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
- agente de contre espionnage 1, record 4, French, agente%20de%20contre%20espionnage
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
agent de contre-espionnage; agente de contre espionnage : termes tirés du Mini-lexique de l'espionnage, de la trahison et de la haute trahison et reproduits avec l'autorisation du Centre de ressources en français juridique de l'Université de Saint-Boniface. 2, record 4, French, - agent%20de%20contre%2Despionnage
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 2013-01-23
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Units (Regular Force, Armed Forces)
- Intelligence (Military)
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- Canadian Forces National Counter-Intelligence Unit
1, record 5, English, Canadian%20Forces%20National%20Counter%2DIntelligence%20Unit
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
- CFNCIU 2, record 5, English, CFNCIU
correct
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Canadian Forces National Counter-Intelligence Unit; CFNCIU: title and abbreviation to be used by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 3, record 5, English, - Canadian%20Forces%20National%20Counter%2DIntelligence%20Unit
Record 5, Key term(s)
- Canadian Forces National Counterintelligence Unit
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Unités (régulières, Forces armées)
- Renseignement (Militaire)
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- Unité nationale de contre-ingérence des Forces canadiennes
1, record 5, French, Unit%C3%A9%20nationale%20de%20contre%2Ding%C3%A9rence%20des%20Forces%20canadiennes
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
- UNCIFC 2, record 5, French, UNCIFC
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Synonyms, French
- Unité nationale de contre-espionnage des Forces canadiennes 3, record 5, French, Unit%C3%A9%20nationale%20de%20contre%2Despionnage%20des%20Forces%20canadiennes
former designation, correct, feminine noun
- UNCEFC 4, record 5, French, UNCEFC
former designation, correct, feminine noun
- UNCEFC 4, record 5, French, UNCEFC
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Unité nationale de contre-ingérence des Forces canadiennes : nouveau titre en vigueur en date du 6 décembre 2012. 5, record 5, French, - Unit%C3%A9%20nationale%20de%20contre%2Ding%C3%A9rence%20des%20Forces%20canadiennes
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Unité nationale de contre-ingérence des Forces canadiennes; UNCIFC : titre et abréviation d’usage obligatoire au ministère de la Défense nationale et dans les Forces canadiennes. 5, record 5, French, - Unit%C3%A9%20nationale%20de%20contre%2Ding%C3%A9rence%20des%20Forces%20canadiennes
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record 6 - internal organization data 2012-05-04
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- Telecommunications Transmission
- IT Security
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- scrambler
1, record 6, English, scrambler
correct
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
Record 6, Textual support, English
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 DEF
An encoder that makes the information to be transmitted unintelligible to a receiver not equipped with an adequate decoding device. 2, record 6, English, - scrambler
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Transmission (Télécommunications)
- Sécurité des TI
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- embrouilleur
1, record 6, French, embrouilleur
correct, masculine noun
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
- crypteur 2, record 6, French, crypteur
see observation, masculine noun
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
La terminologie officielle utilise et conseille les termes embrouillage et désembrouillage, plutôt que décryptage, réservé aux services de contre-espionnage. En effet, on ne crypte pas un message, on le chiffre. Le mot décodeur est [...] réservé aux appareils qui convertissent une norme de télévision(donc un système de codage du signal) dans une autre(ex. décodeur D2-MAC). 1, record 6, French, - embrouilleur
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Transmisión (Telecomunicaciones)
- Seguridad de IT
Record 6, Main entry term, Spanish
- codificador
1, record 6, Spanish, codificador
correct, masculine noun
Record 6, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 6, Synonyms, Spanish
- escamoteador 1, record 6, Spanish, escamoteador
correct, masculine noun
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Record 7 - internal organization data 2010-09-23
Record 7, English
Record 7, Subject field(s)
- Security
- Police
Record 7, Main entry term, English
- undercover man
1, record 7, English, undercover%20man
correct
Record 7, Abbreviations, English
Record 7, Synonyms, English
- undercover agent 2, record 7, English, undercover%20agent
correct
- undercover operator 3, record 7, English, undercover%20operator
correct
- infiltrator 4, record 7, English, infiltrator
correct
- undercover officer 5, record 7, English, undercover%20officer
correct
- groomed member 6, record 7, English, groomed%20member
Record 7, Textual support, English
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[A police officer] who undertakes to secure evidence of criminal or illegal actions by working with or among those who are under suspicion. 7, record 7, English, - undercover%20man
Record 7, Key term(s)
- under cover agent
- under cover man
- under cover operator
- under cover officer
Record 7, French
Record 7, Domaine(s)
- Sécurité
- Police
Record 7, Main entry term, French
- agent d’infiltration
1, record 7, French, agent%20d%26rsquo%3Binfiltration
correct, masculine noun
Record 7, Abbreviations, French
Record 7, Synonyms, French
- agent banalisé 2, record 7, French, agent%20banalis%C3%A9
correct, masculine noun
Record 7, Textual support, French
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Agent de police en civil participant à des opérations spéciales : lutte anti-drogue, contre-espionnage, etc. 3, record 7, French, - agent%20d%26rsquo%3Binfiltration
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 OBS
agent d’infiltration : équivalent adopté par la Gendarmerie royale du Canada. 3, record 7, French, - agent%20d%26rsquo%3Binfiltration
Record 7, Spanish
Record 7, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Seguridad
- Policía
Record 7, Main entry term, Spanish
- agente secreto
1, record 7, Spanish, agente%20secreto
correct, masculine noun
Record 7, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 7, Synonyms, Spanish
- agente infiltrado 2, record 7, Spanish, agente%20infiltrado
correct, masculine noun
- agente encubierto 2, record 7, Spanish, agente%20encubierto
correct, masculine noun
Record 7, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Es un agente encubierto ordenado por un fiscal, avalado por un juez colombiano, que se incorpora en la organización criminal, que esa organización lo lleve por todas partes, pero bajo nuestra responsabilidad. 2, record 7, Spanish, - agente%20secreto
Record 8 - internal organization data 2001-07-19
Record 8, English
Record 8, Subject field(s)
- Intelligence (Military)
Record 8, Main entry term, English
- counter-intelligence section
1, record 8, English, counter%2Dintelligence%20section
correct
Record 8, Abbreviations, English
Record 8, Synonyms, English
Record 8, French
Record 8, Domaine(s)
- Renseignement (Militaire)
Record 8, Main entry term, French
- section de contre-espionnage
1, record 8, French, section%20de%20contre%2Despionnage
correct, feminine noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, French
Record 8, Synonyms, French
Record 8, Textual support, French
Record 8, Spanish
Record 8, Textual support, Spanish
Record 9 - internal organization data 1991-04-11
Record 9, English
Record 9, Subject field(s)
- Military (General)
Record 9, Main entry term, English
- sensitive unit 1, record 9, English, sensitive%20unit
Record 9, Abbreviations, English
Record 9, Synonyms, English
Record 9, Textual support, English
Record 9, French
Record 9, Domaine(s)
- Militaire (Généralités)
Record 9, Main entry term, French
- unité sensible
1, record 9, French, unit%C3%A9%20sensible
feminine noun
Record 9, Abbreviations, French
Record 9, Synonyms, French
- point sensible 1, record 9, French, point%20sensible
masculine noun
- unité fermée 1, record 9, French, unit%C3%A9%20ferm%C3%A9e
feminine noun
Record 9, Textual support, French
Record number: 9, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les inspecteurs de la sécurité navale chargés des missions et enquêtes concernant la protection du secret, la protection des points sensibles, le contre-espionnage et le contre-sabotage dans la Marine.(Manuel des recrues..., p. 20). 1, record 9, French, - unit%C3%A9%20sensible
Record 9, Spanish
Record 9, Textual support, Spanish
Record 10 - internal organization data 1990-12-21
Record 10, English
Record 10, Subject field(s)
- Security
Record 10, Main entry term, English
- counter-intelligence program
1, record 10, English, counter%2Dintelligence%20program
correct
Record 10, Abbreviations, English
Record 10, Synonyms, English
- CI program 1, record 10, English, CI%20program
correct
Record 10, Key term(s)
- counter-intelligence programme
- CI programme
Record 10, French
Record 10, Domaine(s)
- Sécurité
Record 10, Main entry term, French
- programme de contre-espionnage
1, record 10, French, programme%20de%20contre%2Despionnage
correct, masculine noun
Record 10, Abbreviations, French
Record 10, Synonyms, French
Record 10, Textual support, French
Record 10, Spanish
Record 10, Textual support, Spanish
Record 11 - internal organization data 1988-12-14
Record 11, English
Record 11, Subject field(s)
- Police
Record 11, Main entry term, English
- undercover work
1, record 11, English, undercover%20work
correct
Record 11, Abbreviations, English
Record 11, Synonyms, English
Record 11, Textual support, English
Record 11, French
Record 11, Domaine(s)
- Police
Record 11, Main entry term, French
- travail d’infiltration
1, record 11, French, travail%20d%26rsquo%3Binfiltration
correct, masculine noun
Record 11, Abbreviations, French
Record 11, Synonyms, French
Record 11, Textual support, French
Record number: 11, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Opérations spéciales dont sont parfois chargées les forces de police : lutte anti-drogue, contre-espionnage, etc. 2, record 11, French, - travail%20d%26rsquo%3Binfiltration
Record number: 11, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Équivalent également adopté par la Gendarmerie royale du Canada. 2, record 11, French, - travail%20d%26rsquo%3Binfiltration
Record 11, Spanish
Record 11, Textual support, Spanish
Record 12 - internal organization data 1988-03-11
Record 12, English
Record 12, Subject field(s)
- Security
- Police
Record 12, Main entry term, English
- counterspy
1, record 12, English, counterspy
correct
Record 12, Abbreviations, English
Record 12, Synonyms, English
Record 12, Textual support, English
Record number: 12, Textual support number: 1 DEF
One who investigates and seeks to check the activities of spies, espionage agents, and subversives. 1, record 12, English, - counterspy
Record 12, French
Record 12, Domaine(s)
- Sécurité
- Police
Record 12, Main entry term, French
- contre-espion
1, record 12, French, contre%2Despion
correct, masculine noun
Record 12, Abbreviations, French
Record 12, Synonyms, French
Record 12, Textual support, French
Record number: 12, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Agent chargé de contre-espionnage. 1, record 12, French, - contre%2Despion
Record 12, Spanish
Record 12, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: