clandestine

[ klan-des-tin ]

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

clandestine

/ klænˈdɛstɪn /

adjective

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

Derived Forms

• clanˈdestinely, adverb
• clanˈdestineness, noun

Other Words From

• clan·destine·ly adverb
• clan·destine·ness clandes·tini·ty noun
• unclan·destine·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of clandestine¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of clandestine¹

C16: from Latin clandestīnus, from clam secretly; related to Latin celāre to hide

Example Sentences

A reporter investigating clandestine timber-harvesting in a Mexican forest encounters a masked logger brandishing a chain saw.

From Los Angeles Times

Soleimani was the head of Iran’s notorious Quds Force, an elite, clandestine unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps specialising in overseas operations.

From BBC

Considering the history I just outlined it's not hard to imagine what Trump and Putin are discussing in these little clandestine chats.

From Salon

Bodies were being dumped on neighborhood sidewalks and in clandestine graves.

From Los Angeles Times

He joined the CIA as an officer with the agency's Office of Technical Services - a unit dedicated to supporting clandestine operations across the globe by designing gadgets, obtaining weapons and creating disguises and forging documents.

From BBC

Related Words

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