spook
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An undercover agent, spy, or intelligence analyst.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
From Ian Fleming to John Le Carre - authors have long been fascinated by the world of espionage. But, asks the BBC’s Gordon Corera, what do real life spooks make of fictional spies?
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “spook” mean?
An undercover agent, spy, or intelligence analyst.
Is “spook” formal or informal?
spook is generally slang.