clandestine
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
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”; see intestine)
Explanation
Use the adjective clandestine to describe something that is done in secret, like your clandestine attempts to steal your brother's Halloween candy. Clandestine, an adjective imported from Latin, describes a secret, usually illegal activity. Often these things have to do with political and spy organizations. The CIA might run a clandestine operation to infiltrate terrorist organizations. Words with similar meanings include secret; covert, used especially for military matters; undercover, common in espionage; and surreptitious which emphasizes a person's efforts to keep something secret.
Vocabulary lists containing clandestine
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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.
The clandestine arrangements have done little to dampen enthusiasm.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
Built from a clandestine audio recording Weist made during the interview, the work occupies a niche between documentary theater, performance art and procedural drama.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The clandestine fleet of more than 700 ageing tankers, usually of obscured ownership, is responsible for carrying 75% of Russia's sanctioned oil, according to the MoD.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
In February 2023, he took a “risky, physically demanding, clandestine trip” to war-torn Ukraine—“further evidence that in spite of his age he was still very much up to the job.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
"This was just one more clandestine meeting among several in a day," he said, "and the danger that I would be caught out was not very great."
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
