cover-up

noun

cov·​er-up ˈkə-vər-ˌəp How to pronounce cover-up (audio)
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

Examples of cover-up in a Sentence

that contrived burglary was just a cover-up for murder
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In one of the photos, Lovato can be seen smiling at the camera while standing on a boat in a red bikini top and matching red cover-up skirt, accessorizing with black sunglasses. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025 Read's defense claims police officers in the house beat O'Keefe, threw his body out in the snow and purposely bungled the investigation as part of a cover-up. Christopher Cann, USA Today, 17 June 2025 Come prepared: Bring layers, a sun hat, mineral sunscreen, and a towel or cover-up. Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 Oversight in cognitive decline ‘cover-up’ investigation | RISING Niall Stanage and Amber Duke discuss four former Biden aides agreeing to testify to the house oversight committee about the former President’s health and mental acuity. The Hill, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cover-up

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cover-up was in 1927

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cover-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover-up. Accessed 22 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

cover-up

noun
cov·​er-up
ˈkəv-ə-ˌrəp
: a planned effort to conceal a wrongful act or situation

More from Merriam-Webster on cover-up

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