Definition

Noun A person who is secretly employed by a government or organization to collect confidential or military information about enemies or competitors; a spy or secret agent.

Usage

An "intelligence officer" is a professional operative who works for an intelligence agency. Their primary role involves gathering, analyzing, and sometimes acting upon secret information to protect national security interests. The term emphasizes their official, often governmental, employment in the field of espionage.

Examples

• The captured intelligence officer refused to reveal any information about his mission.
• She worked undercover for a decade as an intelligence officer before her identity was compromised.
• The agency recruited him to train as an intelligence officer.

Advanced Usage

• "Human intelligence (HUMINT) officer": A specific type of intelligence officer whose work focuses on gathering information from human sources.
  • As a HUMINT officer, her job was to develop relationships with informants.
• The term often implies a degree of official sanction and training, distinguishing it from more informal terms like "spy," though they are frequently used interchangeably in general contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Intelligence agent: A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "intelligence officer."
• Operative: A general term for someone engaged in covert operations.
• Case officer: An intelligence officer who manages and handles spies or assets in the field.

Synonyms

• Spy
• Secret agent
• Undercover agent
• Espionage agent

Related Phrases

• Covert operations: Secret activities, often involving intelligence officers, intended to influence political, military, or economic conditions.
  • The unit specialized in planning covert operations for intelligence officers.
• Intelligence community: The collective of government agencies and departments involved in intelligence activities.
  • He had a long career within the intelligence community.

Noun

1. a person secretly employed in espionage for a government