cover-up

noun

cov·​er-up ˈkə-vər-ˌəp How to pronounce cover-up (audio)
Synonyms of cover-upnext
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.
But when someone ends up dead, the trip shifts to culprits and cover-ups. James Folta, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026 Staying true to her country roots, Moroney wore a dark brown cowgirl hat paired with a daring black mesh cover-up. Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026 As temperatures tend to dip in the evening, festival-goers may want to have a light cover-up, like a long-sleeve shirt, to stay comfortable once the sun sets. Katie Ann Lehman, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2026 Two inquiries into the case conducted during apartheid were widely suspected of being cover-ups. CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 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 29 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

cover-up

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

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