Dictionary

tradecraft en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dreh₂- Proto-Germanic *tradō Proto-West Germanic *trudo Old Saxon tradader. Middle Low German tradeder. Middle English trade English trade Proto-Germanic *krafjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *kraftuz Proto-West Germanic *kraftu Old English cræft Old English -cræft Middle English -craft English -craft English tradecraft From trade + -craft.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The skills acquired through experience of a trade.
2. (countable, uncountable) The methods used in espionage and clandestine operations.
   • Defending the move, Ms. [Tulsi] Gabbard’s office highlighted what it said were problems of tradecraft, or the methodology used to gather information and analyze intelligence for the report. 2025 September 26, Julian E. Barnes, Helene Cooper, “Gabbard Ends Intelligence Report on Future Threats to U.S.”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Sep 2025:
   • The conduct of the meeting and the passing of intelligence is simply amateurish statecraft and intelligence tradecraft, and begs the question: Who are the professionals planning the strategy and operations that direct the President on the world stage? 2017 May 16, Mark Hertling, “Trump had the right to do it, but should he have?”, in CNN, archived from the original on 29 Jun 2017:

Forms

Deriveds

analytic tradecraft

Translations (2)

fi ammattitaito (skills acquired through experience of a trade) · fi vakoilumenetelmät (methods used in espionage)