incognito

American  

[in-kog-nee-toh, in-kog-ni-toh] / ˌɪn kɒgˈni toʊ, ɪnˈkɒg nɪˌtoʊ /

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

incognitos

1. a person who is incognito.

2. the state of being incognito.

3. the disguise or character assumed by an incognito.

incognito British  

/ 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

Etymology

Origin of incognito

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”; see cognition)

Explanation

When you want to do something and not be recognized, go incognito — hiding your true identity. It is funny that the words, recognize and incognito, are both related to the Latin verb, cognoscere, "to get to know" because when you do something incognito, you do not want to be recognized. Celebrities often try to go out or travel incognito so that they may have some privacy, whereas an average person might want to remain incognito in order to observe something they might not otherwise be able to see (like a celebrity).

Example Sentences

If you’re relying on an incognito window for your next trip, layering more traditional tactics might result in better deals.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

F1 driver Kimi Antonelli has surprised local go-karters by going incognito at a packed racing session.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

When possible, opt to store browsing activity locally, so it isn’t sent to company servers, and use incognito mode for sensitive queries.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

You might need to open an incognito window or use a different browser after you make settings changes to double-check that they’ve taken effect.

From Slate • Dec. 29, 2024

His new shield, with the blazon of his incognito, was propped in front of him.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White