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 of cover-up

• 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

During his visit to Days, Oliver’s character will also take a meeting with Salem mayor Pauline Price (played by sitcom legend Jackée Harry) and confront the shady EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) about a criminal cover-up. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Leo met with six abuse survivors during his recent trip to Spain, where the Catholic hierarchy has only recently begun reckoning with its legacy of abuse and cover-up after long dismissing the severity of the scandal. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

The 61-year-old actress and model took a stroll on the beach in her latest Instagram post, wearing nothing but a tiny bikini and a sheer cover-up. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026

Berry posed near the shoreline in an animal-print cover-up layered over a black lace lingerie bodysuit as the sun dipped toward the ocean. — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026

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