undercover

American  

[uhn-der-kuhv-er, uhn-der-kuhv-] / ˌʌn dərˈkʌv ər, ˈʌn dərˌkʌv- /

adjective

1. working or done out of public sight; secret.

   an undercover investigation.

   Synonyms:

   hidden, clandestine, covert

2. engaged in spying or securing confidential information.

   an undercover agent.

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undercover British  

/ ˌʌndəˈkʌvə /

adjective

1. done or acting in secret

   undercover operations

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Etymology

Origin of undercover

First recorded in 1850–55; under- + cover

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Explanation

Undercover means secret or disguised. A police department might send undercover officers dressed as clowns to investigate a corrupt circus. When this adjective was originally used in the mid-19th century, it meant "sheltered beneath something," but after a century or so, it was routinely used to mean "covert or clandestine." If you go undercover, you're doing some kind of secret work, usually inside an organization or group. If the other chess club members want you to be an undercover spy inside the French club, you'll have to brush up on your verb tenses.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

undercover

“I feel like an undercover cop right now,” she says, clearly getting a rush.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

In the BBC report, published in April, an adviser called Tanisa Khan told an undercover reporter she could provide a "comprehensive package", including photographs at gay clubs and other supporting evidence.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

I went undercover as a cleaner at a failing care home.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

Gounaud was a 20-year FBI veteran who had worked on elaborate undercover operations.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

They were working undercover for the Department of Homeland Security.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez

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Related Words

• covert

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