clandestine

American  

[klan-des-tin] / klænˈdɛs tɪn /

adjective

1. characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment, especially for purposes of subversion or deception; private or surreptitious.

   Their clandestine meetings went undiscovered for two years.

   Synonyms:

   illicit, confidential, underhand, hidden

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clandestine British  

/ klænˈdɛstɪn /

adjective

1. secret and concealed, often for illicit reasons; furtive

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Other Word Forms

• clandestinely adverb
• clandestineness noun
• clandestinity noun
• unclandestinely adverb

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”; intestine )

Example Sentences

Sen. Frank Church of Idaho – held extensive hearings that included eye-opening testimony about clandestine U.S. intelligence activities abroad and domestically.

From Salon

In 2024, $9 billion passing through correspondent accounts maintained by U.S. banks appears to have been tied to clandestine Iranian financial activity, according to the Treasury Department.

From The Wall Street Journal

He helps nations rise and fall, but he’s very clandestine.

From Los Angeles Times

The U.S. leader made no mention of ongoing Mexican enforcement efforts that have seen large-scale seizures of illicit drugs, destruction of clandestine laboratories, and the arrests of scores of cartel operatives.

From Los Angeles Times

From her position on the city council, Franco worked to prevent the expansion of clandestine housing developments in poor neighborhoods, one of the militias' biggest sources of income.

From Barron's

Related Words

• covert
• fraudulent
• furtive
• hidden
• hush-hush
• illicit
• surreptitious
• underground