clandestine

American  

[klan-des-tin] / klænˈdɛs tɪn /

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

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clandestine British  

/ klænˈdɛstɪn /

adjective

1. secret and concealed, often for illicit reasons; furtive

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Other Word Forms

• clandestinely adverb
• clandestineness noun
• clandestinity noun
• unclandestinely adverb

Etymology

Origin of clandestine

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 )

Example Sentences

He helps nations rise and fall, but he’s very clandestine.

From Los Angeles Times

The U.S. leader made no mention of ongoing Mexican enforcement efforts that have seen large-scale seizures of illicit drugs, destruction of clandestine laboratories, and the arrests of scores of cartel operatives.

From Los Angeles Times

From her position on the city council, Franco worked to prevent the expansion of clandestine housing developments in poor neighborhoods, one of the militias' biggest sources of income.

From Barron's

Family members of disappeared people have unearthed hundreds of clandestine graves as they look for their loved ones.

From Barron's

The U.S. has accused China of conducting a clandestine low-yield nuclear test at that time.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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