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

Saa is now navigating a new life in America as an incognito boarding school student.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, he traveled incognito in track pants and a baseball cap to hide his identity, according to a New York Times exposé.

From The Daily Beast

He said that he and Kardashian came to Florence “incognito” about nine months before their daughter North West was born.

From The Daily Beast

He arrives incognito in shades, a pulled-down trucker cap with tucked-in earbuds, and a backpack.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, the free agent Incognito recently sought help for “severe mental stress”.

From The Daily Beast

We will then go to another hotel, in another quarter of New York, and take our week's holiday incognito.

From Project Gutenberg

The incognito, however, could only be preserved as long as Chopin kept his hands off the piano.

From Project Gutenberg

If I were to stop that old fortune teller and his companions my incognito would run a risk of being discovered.

From Project Gutenberg

It was evident that the unlucky chance which had brought him into the presence of his mother had betrayed his incognito.

From Project Gutenberg

I travelled through the country incognito; I came to Hodnet and saw you.

From Project Gutenberg