hideout

American  

[hahyd-out] / ˈhaɪdˌaʊt /

Or hide-out

noun

hideouts plural

1. a safe place for hiding, especially from the law.

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hideout British  

/ ˈhaɪdˌaʊt /

noun

1. a hiding place, esp a remote place used by outlaws, etc; hideaway

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verb

1. to remain deliberately concealed, esp for a prolonged period of time

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hideouts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hideout

First recorded in 1870–75; noun use of verb phrase hide out

Explanation

A hideout is a secret place where someone can take refuge. Criminals or outlaws often lie low in a hideout to avoid being found by the police. A car thief might use his grandmother's apartment as a hideout to avoid detection. A group of ten year-olds might also have a hideout, a place that's protected from parents, bullies, older siblings, and anyone else who might interfere. Before the first use of hideout, in the 1880s, came the verb phrase hide out, or "hide from authorities," which was coined during the Civil War in reference to draft dodgers.

Example Sentences

Pakistan's information chief said the strikes hit four targets, including a training camp, an ammunition cache and a hideout linked to two TTP commanders.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Instead, the wows come from good stagings of ordinary action: a car crash, a gripped crucifix, a hideout crowded with jostling, thrumming musical instruments.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Even if a sniper can find a hideout, their body heat may warm it enough for drones with thermal imagery to spot.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

He is also convinced that the tip-off which led police to the hideout would not have come from his peers in the sovereign citizen movement.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Bo opened the door for them when they arrived back at the hideout.

From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke

Related Words

• hideaway
• refuge
• sanctuary
• shelter