surreptitious

[ sur-uhp-tish-uhs ]

adjective

1. obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized; clandestine:

   a surreptitious glance.

2. acting in a stealthy way.
3. obtained by subreption; subreptitious.

surreptitious

/ ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəs /

adjective

1. done, acquired, etc, in secret or by improper means
2. operating by stealth
3. characterized by fraud or misrepresentation of the truth

Derived Forms

• ˌsurrepˈtitiousness, noun
• ˌsurrepˈtitiously, adverb

Other Words From

• sur·rep·ti·tious·ly adverb
• sur·rep·ti·tious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of surreptitious¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin surreptīcius “stolen, clandestine,” equivalent to surrept(us), past participle of surripere “to steal,” ( sur- sur- ² + rep-, combining form of rapere “to snatch, plunder” ( rape ¹ ) + -tus past participle suffix) + -īcius adjective suffix ( -itious )

Word History and Origins

Origin of surreptitious¹

C15: from Latin surreptīcius furtive, from surripere to steal, from sub- secretly + rapere to snatch

Example Sentences

For the defense, the government’s surreptitious recordings were hard to overcome.

From Los Angeles Times

If she didn’t act quickly, she would have to make a far more perilous, surreptitious journey over land to settle with her sister in Dallas.

From Seattle Times

Those seconds can come from a voicemail, social media post or surreptitious recording, Farid said.

From Seattle Times

Not to mention the scourge of every bookstore: surreptitious photo-snappers who later shopped online.

From New York Times

Threats from Russian-affiliated hackers are not limited to the war in Ukraine and the surreptitious invasion of people’s emails.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• clandestine
• covert
• furtive
• hush-hush
• unauthorized