secret agent
Undercover intelligence operative
A secret agent is someone who conducts espionage or covert operations for a government or organization.
The term evokes Cold War intrigue and spy fiction—James Bond is the archetypal secret agent.
In practice, intelligence officers rarely use this term for themselves; it belongs more to popular culture than to actual tradecraft: He dreamed of becoming a secret agent.
Systematic observation of subjects
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
- cryptographyScience of secure messaging
intercept · signals · decryption · encryption · intel · briefing · dossier · cipher
Concealed from authorities
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- incognitoWith identity concealed
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- shadowyObscured by darkness
infiltrate · surreptitious · hidden · unseen · anonymous · concealment · veiled · undercover
One who manages something
- assetItem of value owned
- informantOne who provides intelligence
- operativeCovert field agent
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
extraction · dead drop · stakeout · tail · shadowing · brush pass · cut-out · exfiltration
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
betrayal · double-cross · treachery · subterfuge · defection · mole hunt · leaks · whistleblower
Purpose-driven task
- assassinPaid murderer of targets
- chaseRapid following of quarry
- fugitiveOne fleeing authorities
- gadgetsSmall mechanical contrivances
Aston Martin · James Bond · Jason Bourne · casino · tuxedo · martini · villain · henchman
surveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
cryptography · intercept · signals · decryption · encryption · intel · briefing · dossier · cipher · analysis
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- incognitoWith identity concealed
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
shadowy · infiltrate · surreptitious · hidden · unseen · anonymous · concealment · veiled · undercover · deep cover
handler
One who manages something
fieldwork · extraction · dead drop · stakeout · tail · shadowing · brush pass · cut-out · exfiltration · rendezvous
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
manipulation · betrayal · double-cross · treachery · subterfuge · defection · mole hunt · leaks · whistleblower · assassination
mission
Purpose-driven task
gadgets · Aston Martin · James Bond · Jason Bourne · casino · tuxedo · martini · villain · henchman · lair
enigma
Something hard to fathom
clue · evidence · forensics · motive · cipher · code · investigation · uncover · revelation · identity
- Spy Fictionspy, MI6, CIA, KGB, undercover
- Agentsspy, operative, CIA officer, intelligence officer, case officer
- hidden identitiesanonymous, anonymity, pseudonym, alias, incognito
- spiesJames Bond, spy, Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt, Austin Powers
- political intrigueintrigue, conspiracy, treason, plot, collusion
- espionagespy, spies, double agents, spying, moles
secret agentpublic figure
Prominent, widely recognized person
celebrity · public official · spokesman · press secretary · ambassador
secret, agent, secretly, secrecy, secretive, secrets, secretion, secrete, secretiveness