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
Examples of cover-up in a Sentence
that contrived burglary was just a cover-up for murder
Recent Examples on the Web
After nearly 10 minutes the youngest was allowed back in the car to grab a cover-up.
—
Carol Thompson, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Lee challenged the complaint, and in May 2024, a judge provisionally dismissed it with leave to amend, finding that Taylor had failed to plead sufficient facts showing a concerted cover-up or that Lee operated through a loan-out company at the time.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2026
In one photo, the pop star posed in the tiniest green butterfly wing print bikini by Rat & Boa, which came with a matching cover-up.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 15 Jan. 2026
There’s nothing a crisp white button-up can’t do ( wear it as a beach cover-up, office blouse, cozy layer, or casual throw-on)—making this buy extra valuable at 57 percent off.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cover-up
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Carol Thompson, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Lee challenged the complaint, and in May 2024, a judge provisionally dismissed it with leave to amend, finding that Taylor had failed to plead sufficient facts showing a concerted cover-up or that Lee operated through a loan-out company at the time.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2026
In one photo, the pop star posed in the tiniest green butterfly wing print bikini by Rat & Boa, which came with a matching cover-up.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 15 Jan. 2026
There’s nothing a crisp white button-up can’t do ( wear it as a beach cover-up, office blouse, cozy layer, or casual throw-on)—making this buy extra valuable at 57 percent off.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cover-up
Cite this Entry
“Cover-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover-up. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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