recon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Informal, Technical (Military/Gaming)
Quick answer
What does “recon” mean?
A short or preliminary reconnaissance (survey) of an area or situation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A short or preliminary reconnaissance (survey) of an area or situation.
1. (Military) A reconnaissance mission. 2. (General) A quick, preliminary survey or investigation to gather information. 3. (Video Games/Slang) Information gathered about an opponent or map. 4. (Informal, as verb) Short for 'reconnoiter' - to perform such a survey.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation are identical. The word is used in both varieties, but its prevalence is likely higher in American English due to stronger cultural influence from the US military and gaming industries.
Connotations
Equally informal and context-specific in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in AmE, but understood globally in relevant contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “recon” in a Sentence
do [a] ~ [of NP]run [a] ~go on [a] ~send [NP] on [a] ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “recon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We'd better recon the car park before we all meet there.
- The team leader sent two men to recon the opposing position.
American English
- Let's recon the venue before we set up the equipment.
- He spent the morning reconning the best approach to the summit.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-Standard) They went in recon, gathering intel silently.
American English
- (Rare/Non-Standard) The drones were deployed recon, ahead of the main force.
adjective
British English
- The recon flight provided crucial images.
- He had extensive recon experience from his army days.
American English
- The recon data was uploaded to the command centre.
- They formed a small recon unit for the operation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'Let's do a quick recon of the market before the meeting.'
Academic
Extremely rare, except in papers on military history, gaming, or linguistics discussing clipped forms.
Everyday
Informal use among gamers, hobbyists, or in planning casual activities: 'We should recon the route before the bike trip.'
Technical
Standard in military communications (informal), gaming, and some tactical professions (e.g., security, emergency services).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “recon”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “recon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “recon”
- Using it as a formal term in writing (e.g., in an academic essay).
- Misspelling as 'reckon' (which means 'to think/believe').
- Using it as a standalone verb without 'do' or 'run' in noun form (e.g., 'We need to recon' is informal but accepted; 'We did a recon' is more typical).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an informal, clipped form of 'reconnaissance' or 'reconnoiter'. Use the full forms in formal writing.
They are completely different. 'Recon' is about scouting/investigation. 'Reckon' means to think, believe, or calculate (e.g., 'I reckon it will rain').
Yes, informally, meaning 'to carry out a reconnaissance'. It is more commonly used as a noun (e.g., 'do a recon').
Yes, it's common in video gaming, and can be used metaphorically in casual contexts for any preliminary check (e.g., recon a restaurant before booking).
A short or preliminary reconnaissance (survey) of an area or situation.
Recon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɛkɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈriːkɑːn/ or /ˈrɛkɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Do a recon on (someone/something)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'RECON'naissance plane – it's a SHORTened version for a SHORT mission to gather info.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING (to recon is to actively go and see/assess a situation).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'recon' LEAST appropriate?