cover-up

noun

cov·​er-up ˈkə-vər-ˌəp 

1

a

: a device or stratagem for masking or concealing

his garrulousness is a cover-up for insecurity

b

: a usually concerted effort to keep an illegal or unethical act or situation from being made public

2

: a loose outer garment

Synonyms

• veil
• cloak
• shroud
• wraps
• blanket

Examples of cover-up in a Sentence

that contrived burglary was just a cover-up for murder

Recent Examples on the Web

The chairman said that every Republican member of Congress wanted to see the Epstein files released and accountability for any government official involved in a potential cover-up. —Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

Meanwhile, some experts have expressed skepticism about presidential health pronouncements, pointing to past cover-ups and the absence of legal mandates for full transparency. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025

This cover-up is the dark secret that poisoned the family for years. —Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 29 Aug. 2025

Just days after Watson was seen hiking in a bikini and crochet cover-up, new photos of the Harry Potter star reveal her penchant for unconventional climbing gear. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for cover-up

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup

Kids Definition

cover-up

noun

cov·​er-up

ˈkəv-ə-ˌrəp

: a planned effort to conceal a wrongful act or situation