cloak

1 of 2

noun

1
: a loose outer garment
2
: something likened to an outer garment: such as
a
: something that envelops or conceals
a cloak of secrecy
b
: a distinctive character or role
hung up his academic cloak … to become a stay-at-home fatherCharles Chamberlain

cloak

2 of 2

verb

cloaked; cloaking; cloaks

transitive verb

: to cover or hide with or as if with a cloak
Choose the Right Synonym for cloak

disguise, cloak, mask mean to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature.

disguise implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity.

disguised herself as a peasant

cloak suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention.

cloaked their maneuvers in secrecy

mask suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something.

smiling to mask his discontent

Examples of cloak in a Sentence

Noun Their plans were shrouded in a cloak of secrecy. the cloak of mystery that surrounds the royal family Verb the outlaw nation had cloaked its chemical weapons plant as a fertilizer factory cloaked their military maneuvers from the outside world
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But more right-wing gatekeepers are shrouding that bigotry in a cloak of objectivity and pseudoscientific justification. Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2024 Weakened militarily and stripped of its cloak of secrecy, Hezbollah has arrived at the most delicate phase of its decades-long fight against Israel. Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 22 Sep. 2024
Verb
Allegiances are often cloaked in the vernacular of America’s founding patriots. Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024 For almost all of its 0.5-mile length, Allens Bend remains cloaked in a riparian canopy. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cloak 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cloak.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cloke, from Anglo-French cloque bell, cloak, from Medieval Latin clocca bell; from its shape

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1509, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cloak was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near cloak

Cite this Entry

“Cloak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloak. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cloak

1 of 2 noun
1
: a long loose outer garment
2
: something that conceals or covers
a cloak of secrecy surrounded the talks

cloak

2 of 2 verb
: to cover or hide with a cloak
Etymology

Noun

Middle English cloke "cloak," from early French cloque "cloak, bell"; so named because a cloak resembled a bell in shape — related to clock

More from Merriam-Webster on cloak

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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