covert
- concealed; secret; disguised.
- covered; sheltered.
- Law. (of a wife) under the protection of one's husband.
- a covering; cover.
- a shelter or hiding place.
- concealment or disguise.
- Hunting. a thicket giving shelter to wild animals or game.
- Also called tectrix. Ornithology. one of the small feathers that cover the bases of the large feathers of the wings and tail.
- covert cloth.
Origin of covert
Synonyms for covert
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comPronunciation note
Related Words for covert
hidden, undercover, surreptitious, secret, privy, private, concealed, disguised, furtive, hush-hush, incognito, masked, stealthy, ulterior, underhand, unsuspected, veiled, buried, obscured, QTExamples from the Web for covert
Contemporary Examples of covert
The remote controlled flying craft has gone from covert military ops to a communal backyard hobby.
PARIS, France—What could be more cynical than a covert operation?
Syrian rebels have overtaken a joint Russian-Syrian secret facility that they claim was a covert intelligence collection base.
Most importantly, foreign policy should not be reduced to a synonym for military action and covert operations.
After Bipartisan Bush-Obama Blundering, Let’s Try a Libertarian Foreign PolicyNick Gillespie
July 16, 2014
Tyler agreed that the covert nature of the LGBT scene at BYU has had its upshots.
Historical Examples of covert
There was covert insinuation of suspicion, albeit a kindly one, in the man's voice.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
He shot her a covert glance—causelessly, for her naiveté was flawless.
The Black BagLouis Joseph Vance
Mr. Bentham discreetly ignored the covert threat in Wrayson's words.
The AvengerE. Phillips Oppenheim
After skirting the covert, she turned homewards by a pathway through the trees.
Creatures of the NightAlfred W. Rees
Bertignac was suspected of a covert satire on the authorities.
Sir Jasper CarewCharles James Lever
covert
- concealed or secretcovert jealousy
- law Compare feme covert, discovert
- a shelter or disguise
- a thicket or woodland providing shelter for game
- short for covert cloth
- ornithol any of the small feathers on the wings and tail of a bird that surround the bases of the larger feathers
- a flock of coots
Word Origin for covert
Word Origin and History for covert
c.1300, from Old French covert "hidden, obscure, underhanded," literally "covered," past participle of covrir "to cover" (see cover). Related: Covertly.