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

Lee joked that he and his wife, Maria, sometimes sneak into Robert’s for an incognito date while other lawmakers swapped stories about swinging by the iconic establishment on the weekends.

From Seattle Times

He was the perfect dog to accompany a famous author traveling incognito in a camper named after Don Quixote’s horse.

From Salon

How do you go incognito to the multiplex, I ask.

From Los Angeles Times

The class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 said Google misled users into believing that it wouldn’t track their internet activities while using incognito mode.

From Seattle Times