clandestine
Americanadjective
adjective
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”; 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.
Even with all the clandestine turmoil, NewsNation’s “unbiased” marketing still appeared to work in public.
From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026
Iran manages a complex, clandestine shadow-banking network globally that is facilitated by China, U.S. officials allege.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026
Sen. Frank Church of Idaho – held extensive hearings that included eye-opening testimony about clandestine U.S. intelligence activities abroad and domestically.
From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026
Indeed, the world’s most high-stakes clandestine cat-and-mouse game is currently taking place in the race for artificial-intelligence supremacy.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 28, 2026
We formed a clandestine communications committee, composed of Kathy, Mac Maharaj, Laloo Chiba, and several others, and their job was to organize all such practices.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
