covert

1 of 2

adjective

co·​vert ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt  kō-ˈvərt  ˈkə-vərt 

1

: not openly shown, engaged in, or avowed : veiled

a covert alliance

a covert military operation

covert racism

2

: covered over : sheltered

covert places in the woods

covertly adverb

covertness noun

covert

2 of 2

noun

co·​vert ˈkə-vərt  ˈkō-vərt 

also

ˈkə-vər 

1

a

: hiding place : shelter

b

: a thicket affording cover for game

c

: a masking or concealing device

2

: a feather covering the bases of the quills of the wings and tail of a bird see wing illustration

3

: a firm durable twilled sometimes waterproofed cloth usually of mixed-color yarns

Synonyms

Adjective

• cloistered
• hidden
• isolated
• quiet
• remote
• retired
• secluded
• secret
• sheltered

Noun

• concealment
• den
• hermitage
• hideaway
• hideout
• hidey-hole
• hidy-hole
• lair
• nest

Choose the Right Synonym for covert

secret, covert, stealthy, furtive, clandestine, surreptitious, underhanded mean done without attracting observation.

secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority.

the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons

underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

Examples of covert in a Sentence

Adjective

He has taken part in a number of covert military operations.

spy agencies taking covert action

Noun

set up a covert from which to watch wildlife without being detected

the rabbit rushed to the safety of the nearest covert

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

After the unexpected death of the pope, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running the covert process of choosing a new leader. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025

Despite numerous brushes with the law, he was frequently shielded from prosecution, feeding theories about his connections to high-level covert U.S. operations. —Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025

Noun

These service members may otherwise be higher earners and may have a larger pre-tax retirement account to covert. —Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2025

Renaissance alchemists kept their work covert, and few alchemical recipes have survived to modern times. —Cnn, The Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, past participle of coverir to cover

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing covert

• break covert
• tail covert
• wing covert

Kids Definition

covert

1 of 2 adjective

co·​vert ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt  kō-ˈvərt 

ˈkəv-ərt

1

: not openly made or done

covert military operations

2

: covered over : sheltered

a covert nook

covertly adverb

covertness noun

covert

2 of 2 noun

co·​vert ˈkəv-ərt  ˈkō-vərt 

1

: hiding place : shelter

2

: a thicket giving cover to game