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

A CIA summary would call this “the most productive classic clandestine operation ever conducted by CIA and MI6 against the Soviet target.”

Read more on Literature

“We are surrounded by armed groups, surrounded by clandestine graves,” he said in a recent video recording posted on social media.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A recent study by Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office said that the state ranked third nationwide in terms of seizures of clandestine synthetic-drug labs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Even in normal times, the national park's dizzying heights and picturesque remote valleys are irresistible to enthusiasts, who make clandestine jumps at dawn or dusk.

Read more on Barron's

Even if this music didn’t make an impact on the charts here, it found its way back to post-revolution Iran clandestinely, on tapes and music video satellite broadcasts.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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