incognito

[ in-kog-nee-toh, in-kog-ni-toh ]

adjective

1. having one's identity concealed, as under an assumed name, especially to avoid notice or formal attentions.

   Synonyms: unidentified, undisclosed

adverb

1. with the real identity concealed:

   to travel incognito.

noun

, plural in·cog·ni·tos

1. a person who is incognito.
2. the state of being incognito.
3. the disguise or character assumed by an incognito.

incognito

/ ɪnˈkɒɡnɪtəʊ; ˌɪnkɒɡˈniːtəʊ /

adverb

1. under an assumed name or appearance; in disguise

noun

1. a person who is incognito
2. the assumed name or disguise of such a person

Word History and Origins

Origin of incognito¹

First recorded in 1630–40; from Italian, from Latin incognitus “unknown,” from in- in- ³ + cognitus “known” (past participle of cognōscere “to get to know”; cognition )

Word History and Origins

Origin of incognito¹

C17: from Italian, from Latin incognitus unknown, from in- ¹+ cognitus known

Example Sentences

Unbeknownst to us though, the real Chalamet, incognito in a mask and baseball hat, slithers through the crowd like an undetected chosen one, or like his character, Lisan al Gaib in “Dune.”

From Salon

I take this inspiration from the G Line zooming along almost-secret bus lanes east-west through the Valley and the Silver Line zooming incognito as it parallels the 10 from City Hall to the El Monte Transit Center, where there is a giant statue of a bumblebee.

From Los Angeles Times

They figured it out with “Incognito,” a centerpiece of “Hyperdrama” that flips back and forth from orchestral swells to hi-NRG synth pop to white-knuckle noise.

From Los Angeles Times

Google, said the company had misled users by tracking their online activity in Chrome’s Incognito mode, which they believed would be private.

From New York Times

Among other allegations, the lawsuit accused Google of tracking Chrome users’ internet activity even when they had switched the browser to the “Incognito” setting that is supposed to shield them from being shadowed by the Mountain View, California, company.

From Seattle Times