tradecraft

noun

trade·​craft ˈtrād-ˌkraft How to pronounce tradecraft (audio)
Synonyms of tradecraftnext
: the techniques and procedures of espionage

Examples of tradecraft in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Good tradecraft has always been discipline applied to leverage, and AI is—without exaggeration—the most leverage investigators have ever had. — Matt Ashburn, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Earlier Justice Department investigations into the memo challenged the analytical tradecraft but did not find intentional misconduct by the analysts involved. — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2026 Nemes does not give us any time to figure out who’s who and, really, what’s happening, but watching all this furtive tradecraft is compelling enough. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 She’s never worked in intelligence, carried a badge, or been taught tradecraft. — Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tradecraft

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tradecraft was in 1961

Rhymes for tradecraft

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Browse Nearby Words

trade council
tradecraft
trade cumulus
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Cite this Entry

“Tradecraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tradecraft. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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