undercover

[uhn-der-kuhv-er, uhn-der-kuhv-]

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.

undercover

/ ˌʌndəˈkʌvə /

adjective

1. done or acting in secret

   undercover operations

Word History and Origins

Origin of undercover¹

First recorded in 1850–55; under- + cover

Example Sentences

Telling Leigh he’s doing undercover classified work and can’t disclose where he lives, he starts dating her and helps to calm her fractious home life.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

But the court heard that Farouk was an undercover operative and through their communication with him the police were able to stop their plans.

Read more on BBC

The organization says the legal challenge aims to “compel compliance” from the FBI and DOJ to release the purported recording of Homan accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents in Sept. 2024.

Read more on Salon

Inquiries into Homan’s previous work in the private sector and his business relationships are likely to ramp up following the reports of the $50,000 undercover sting.

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The BBC had placed an undercover reporter within the UK's largest police force.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• covert