undercover

[uhn-der-kuhv-er, uhn-der-kuhv-]

adjective

1. working or done out of public sight; secret.

   an undercover investigation.

   Synonyms: hidden, clandestine, covert

2. engaged in spying or securing confidential information.

   an undercover agent.

undercover

/ ˌʌndəˈkʌvə /

adjective

1. done or acting in secret

   undercover operations

Word History and Origins

Origin of undercover¹

First recorded in 1850–55; under- + cover

Example Sentences

On Sept. 9, 2024, Lyons allegedly added the girl as a friend on Discord then asked her age, to which the undercover agent responded, “12.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

More than 300 people have contacted the BBC with allegations of racism, corruption and bullying of victims by police after a Panorama undercover investigation.

Read more on BBC

He was arrested in October 2023 after being snared by an undercover police officer from the US, who infiltrated an online group used by Plumb called Abduct Lovers.

Read more on BBC

The three men were arrested when security services believed an attack was imminent after undercover officers infiltrated their online group.

Read more on BBC

But the federal government tried to crush the movement through undercover criminal investigations and prosecutions of sanctuary workers.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• covert