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

Miles wakes in 2173 after being clandestinely revived by a group of rebels and is later delivered — disguised as a robot — into Luna’s home.

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“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.”

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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.

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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

Related Words

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