overt

[oh-vurt, oh-vurt]

adjective

1. open to view or knowledge; not concealed or secret.

   overt hostility.

   Synonyms: public, apparent, manifest, plain
   Antonyms: private

2. Heraldry.,  (of a device, as a purse) represented as open.

   a purse overt.

overt

/ əʊˈvɜːt, ˈəʊvɜːt /

adjective

1. open to view; observable

2. law open; deliberate. Criminal intent may be inferred from an overt act

Other Word Forms

• unovert adjective
• overtness noun
• overtly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of overt¹

1275–1325; Middle English < Old French, past participle of ouvrir to open < Vulgar Latin *ōperīre, for Latin aperīre

Word History and Origins

Origin of overt¹

C14: via Old French, from ovrir to open, from Latin aperīre

Example Sentences

"There can be this moment where it's unveiled to you, through things that they do that are very overt," she said.

From BBC

Veteran TV news executives warn that any overt attempt to woo disaffected conservatives risks alienating the millions of viewers who are still watching CBS News programs.

From Los Angeles Times

He did this during the campaign after being called out for his overt lie about Haitian immigrants kidnapping and eating people’s pets.

From Salon

The president’s overt use of the Justice Department as a partisan tool threatens a new era of political persecutions that could well backfire on his own allies.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes, the gender-based crimes are more overt but hate groups aren’t charged with them because they tend to be trickier to prosecute.

From Salon

Related Words

• apparent 
• definite 
• undisguised