clandestine
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of clandestine
First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin clandestīnus, from clamde, clande (unrecorded) (variant of clam “secretly” + -de, adverb particle) + -stīnus (probably after intestīnus “internal”; see intestine)
Explanation
Use the adjective clandestine to describe something that is done in secret, like your clandestine attempts to steal your brother's Halloween candy. Clandestine, an adjective imported from Latin, describes a secret, usually illegal activity. Often these things have to do with political and spy organizations. The CIA might run a clandestine operation to infiltrate terrorist organizations. Words with similar meanings include secret; covert, used especially for military matters; undercover, common in espionage; and surreptitious which emphasizes a person's efforts to keep something secret.
Vocabulary lists containing clandestine
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Evidence surfaced in court documents submitted in Roh’s divorce that her father had allegedly spent some of the money on clandestine payments to SK.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Most vessels are now using channels approved by Iran “or other clandestine routes, while traffic through the Omani waters has effectively dried up,” they wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
I'm sorry to disappoint any conspiracy theorists, but I can promise you there aren't any clandestine meetings between Fifa's executive committee and the referees.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Built from a clandestine audio recording Weist made during the interview, the work occupies a niche between documentary theater, performance art and procedural drama.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
Kondrachev organized chess competitions and planned tours for famous Soviet musicians—activities that offered the perfect excuse for traveling about the city, scouting out quiet meeting spots, and arranging clandestine rendezvous with DIOMID.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
