Spy vs. Scout — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Spy and Scout
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Definitions
Spy
One who secretly collects information concerning the enemies of a government or group.
Scout
To spy on or explore carefully in order to obtain information; reconnoiter.
Spy
One who secretly collects information for a business about one or more of its competitors.
Scout
To observe and evaluate (a talented person), as for possible hiring.
Spy
One who secretly keeps watch on another or others.
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Scout
To search as a scout
Scout around for some gossip.
Spy
To watch or observe secretly
Was sent to spy out the enemy camp.
Scout
To search for talented people
Scouts for a professional basketball team.
Spy
To discover by close observation
"[They] are continually prowling about on all three decks, eager to spy out iniquities" (Herman Melville).
Scout
To reject with disdain or derision.
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Spy
To catch sight of; see
Spied the ship on the horizon.
Scout
One that is dispatched from a main body to gather information, especially in preparation for military action.
Spy
To engage in espionage.
Scout
The act of reconnoitering.
Spy
To investigate or observe something, especially in secret
Spying into the neighbor's activities.
Scout
A watcher or sentinel.
Spy
A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).
Scout
One who is employed to discover and recruit talented persons, especially in the fields of sports and entertainment.
Spy
(intransitive) To act as a spy.
During the Cold War, Russia and America would each spy on each other for recon.
Scout
(Sports) One who is employed to observe and report on the strategies and players of rival teams.
Spy
(transitive) To spot; to catch sight of.
I think I can spy that hot guy coming over here.
Scout
A member of the Boy Scouts.
Spy
(intransitive) To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
Scout
A member of the Girl Scouts.
Spy
(transitive) To explore; to see; to view; inspect and examine secretly, as a country.
Scout
(Informal) An individual; a person
A good scout.
Spy
To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see.
One, in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration.
Scout
Chiefly British A student's male servant at Oxford University.
Spy
To discover by close search or examination.
Look about with your eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England.
Scout
A person sent out to gain and bring in tidings; especially, one employed in war to gain information about the enemy and ground.
Spy
To explore; to view, inspect, and examine secretly, as a country; - usually with out.
Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof.
Scout
An act of scouting or reconnoitering.
Spy
To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
It is my nature's plagueTo spy into abuses.
Scout
A member of any number of youth organizations belonging to the international scout movement, such as the Boy Scouts of America or Girl Scouts of the United States.
Spy
One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others.
Scout
A person who assesses and/or recruits others; especially, one who identifies promising talent on behalf of a sports team.
Spy
A person sent secretly into an enemy's camp, territory, or fortifications, to inspect his works, ascertain his strength, movements, or designs, and to communicate such intelligence to the proper officer.
Scout
A person employed to monitor rivals' activities in the petroleum industry.
Spy
(military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
Scout
A housekeeper or domestic cleaner, generally female, employed by one of the constituent colleges of Oxford University to clean rooms; generally equivalent to a modern bedder at Cambridge University.
Spy
A secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people;
My spies tell me that you had a good time last night
Scout
A domestic servant, generally male, who would attend (usually several) students in a variety of ways, including cleaning; generally equivalent to a gyp at Cambridge University or a skip at Trinity College, Dublin.
Spy
Catch sight of
Scout
A fielder in a game for practice.
Spy
Watch, observe, or inquire secretly
Scout
A fighter aircraft.
Spy
Secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage;
Spy for the Russians
Scout
(radiography) A preliminary image that allows the technician to make adjustments before the actual diagnostic images.
Scout
(informal) Term of address for a man or boy.
Scout
(dated) A swift sailing boat.
Scout
The guillemot.
Scout
To explore a wide terrain, as if on a search; to reconnoiter.
Scout
(transitive) To observe, watch, or look for, as a scout; to follow for the purpose of observation, as a scout.
Scout
(transitive) To reject with contempt.
To scout an idea or an apology
Scout
(intransitive) To scoff.
Scout
A swift sailing boat.
So we took a scout, very much pleased with the manner and conversation of the passengers.
Scout
A projecting rock.
Scout
A person sent out to gain and bring in tidings; especially, one employed in war to gain information of the movements and condition of an enemy.
Scouts each coast light-armèd scour,Each quarter, to descry the distant foe.
Scout
A college student's or undergraduate's servant; - so called in Oxford, England; at Cambridge called a gyp; and at Dublin, a skip.
Scout
A fielder in a game for practice.
Scout
The act of scouting or reconnoitering.
While the rat is on the scout.
Scout
A boy scout or girl scout (which see, above).
Scout
To reject with contempt, as something absurd; to treat with ridicule; to flout; as, to scout an idea or an apology.
Scout
To observe, watch, or look for, as a scout; to follow for the purpose of observation, as a scout.
Take more men,And scout him round.
Scout
To pass over or through, as a scout; to reconnoiter; as, to scout a country.
Scout
To go on the business of scouting, or watching the motions of an enemy; to act as a scout.
With obscure wingScout far and wide into the realm of night.
Scout
A person employed to watch for something to happen
Scout
Someone employed to discover and recruit talented persons (especially in the worlds of entertainment or sports)
Scout
Someone who can find paths through unexplored territory
Scout
Explore, often with the goal of finding something or somebody
