clandestine

[klan-des-tin]

adjective

1. characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment, especially for purposes of subversion or deception; private or surreptitious.

   Their clandestine meetings went undiscovered for two years.

   Synonyms: illicit, confidential, underhand, hidden

clandestine

/ klænˈdɛstɪn /

adjective

1. secret and concealed, often for illicit reasons; furtive

Other Word Forms

• clandestinely adverb
• clandestineness noun
• clandestinity noun
• unclandestinely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of clandestine¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin clandestīnus, from clamde, clande (unrecorded) (variant of clam “secretly” + -de, adverb particle) + -stīnus (probably after intestīnus “internal”; intestine )

Word History and Origins

Origin of clandestine¹

C16: from Latin clandestīnus, from clam secretly; related to Latin celāre to hide

Example Sentences

“The same actions carried out clandestinely would seem scandalous, because they are — and the fact they were so blatantly advertised does not make them less corrupt.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For months, Indonesian movie audiences have been talking about one film: Norma, the story of a seemingly blissful marriage shattered by the husband's clandestine affair with his mother-in-law.

Read more on BBC

The figures also showed that the number of "irregular" arrivals - meaning people who arrive in the UK via clandestine routes, such as small boats - were also up.

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Drake has accused UMG of both defamation and running a clandestine campaign to boost “Not Like Us” at the expense of his own reputation and career.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Her clandestine involvement with her father’s close friend and literary agent, whose wife is dying of cancer, implodes, leaving her a bitter “other woman” living her own soap opera.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• covert 
• fraudulent 
• furtive 
• hidden 
• hush-hush 
• illicit 
• surreptitious 
• underground