clandestine
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of clandestine
First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin clandestīnus, from clamde, clande (unrecorded) (variant of clam “secretly” + -de, adverb particle) + -stīnus (probably after intestīnus “internal”; see intestine)
Explanation
Use the adjective clandestine to describe something that is done in secret, like your clandestine attempts to steal your brother's Halloween candy. Clandestine, an adjective imported from Latin, describes a secret, usually illegal activity. Often these things have to do with political and spy organizations. The CIA might run a clandestine operation to infiltrate terrorist organizations. Words with similar meanings include secret; covert, used especially for military matters; undercover, common in espionage; and surreptitious which emphasizes a person's efforts to keep something secret.
Vocabulary lists containing clandestine
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the physical barrier won't be enough to curb clandestine activities, Scott said.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
The ship is part of a small fleet of cargo ships that Russia has used for clandestine shipments of weapons and other military equipment in the region.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
The panel also criticised the club's "deplorable approach in its use of junior members of staff" to "conduct the clandestine observation".
From BBC • May 21, 2026
Others point out the long — but clandestine — history of the CIA in Mexico, dating back to the Cold War.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
A CIA summary would call this “the most productive classic clandestine operation ever conducted by CIA and MI6 against the Soviet target.”
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
