sleeper cell
noun
an organized group of undercover individuals, especially those involved in espionage or terrorist activities.
sleeper cells
-
pluralof sleeper cell.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Reports compiled by BBC Monitoring say the army continues to carry out security sweeps across greater Khartoum, targeting alleged RSF sleeper cells, undocumented foreigners and criminals involved in illegal activities.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
“People think about sleeper cells here. Do they have a right to be concerned?”
From Slate ● Jun. 23, 2025
The U.S. has some 900 troops in eastern Syria backing SDF forces in targeting militant Islamic State group sleeper cells.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 18, 2023
On Tuesday, the state's security committee said it had caught several "rebellious" sleeper cells that it said had sneaked in from outside and warned that they were planning activities.
From Reuters ● May 30, 2023
Stretched thin amid an economic crisis and rising threats from IS sleeper cells, the Kurdish-led administration is renewing calls for countries to repatriate their citizens.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 16, 2022
