clandestine

clan·des·tine

adjective \klan-ˈdes-tən also -ˌtīn or -ˌtēn or ˈklan-dəs-\

Definition of CLANDESTINE

: marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy : surreptitious <a clandestine love affair>

— clan·des·tine·ly adverb

— clan·des·tine·ness noun

— clan·des·tin·i·ty \ˌklan-də-ˈsti-nə-tē, -des-ˈti-\ noun

Examples of CLANDESTINE

1. <I took a clandestine peek at the price tag on the diamond necklace.>
2. The clandestine meetings, the passing back and forth of messages between Lodge and the plotters, the coaxing along of the generals, all had the emotional lift of a strong amphetamine. —Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
3. The CIA's great innovation has been to concentrate in peacetime on ‘covert action’—that is, the use of clandestine means to challenge policies and regimes in other countries. —Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986
4. And Pym was in London for a conference—no, he wasn't, he was attending a three-day course on the latest methods of clandestine communication in a beastly little training house off Smith Square. —John le Carré, A Perfect Spy, 1986

Origin of CLANDESTINE

Middle French or Latin; Middle French clandestin, from Latin clandestinus, from clam secretly; akin to Latin celare to hide — more at hell

First Known Use: circa 1528

Related to CLANDESTINE

Synonyms

backstairs, behind-the-scenes, secret, covert, furtive, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, private, privy, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealth, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded

Antonyms

open, overt, public

Related Words

back-channel, closed-door, off-the-books, off-the-record; classified, confidential, restricted, top secret, undisclosed; concealed, hidden, secreted, subterranean, unadvertised, unexposed

Near Antonyms

acknowledged, avowed; aboveboard, straightforward, unconcealed, undisguised; unclassified, unrestricted; clear, evident, manifest, obvious, patent, plain

See Synonym Discussion at secret

Rhymes with CLANDESTINE

Avestan, intestine, predestine