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

The U.S. has accused China of conducting a clandestine low-yield nuclear test at that time.

From The Wall Street Journal

Moscow's so-called shadow fleet is a clandestine network of tankers used to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil exports by using aged tankers with obscure ownership or insurance.

From BBC

The country has a sprawling underworld of clandestine artisanal miners.

From Barron's

Some of the affected families have told the BBC that they lay the blame squarely on Kenya's government, for failing to regulate and criminalise clandestine recruitment agencies.

From BBC

China has previously denied that it is conducting clandestine low-yield nuclear tests.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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