covert

adjective co·vert \ ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt , kō-ˈvərt ; ˈkə-vərt \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of covert

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

a covert alliance

a covert military operation

2 : covered over : sheltered

covert places in the woods

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covertly

adverb

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covertness

noun

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Examples of covert in a Sentence

He has taken part in a number of covert military operations.
spy agencies taking covert action

Recent Examples of covert from the Web

But even before that, a covert attempt by Iran to corral Iraq’s majority Shiite community into a strictly sectarian political coalition – one that would exclude minority Sunnis and Kurds – has failed.

— The Christian Science Monitor, "War in Syria. Gloom over Iran. Can Iraq provide hope?," 13 Apr. 2018
May on Wednesday expelled 23 Russian diplomats, severed high-level contacts and vowed both open and covert action following the incident.

— Washington Post, "Mystery surrounds how ex-Russian spy was poisoned in UK," 16 Mar. 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May this week expelled 23 diplomats, severed high-level contacts and vowed both open and covert action against Kremlin meddling after the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter.

— gregg re, Fox News, "UK to build $60M chemical weapons center after 'shocking and reckless' spy poisoning: report," 15 Mar. 2018
Relations between Britain and Russia have fallen to levels not seen since the Cold War after Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expelled 23 diplomats, severed high-level contacts and vowed both open and covert action following the attack.

— chicagotribune.com, "Russian minister says it will 'certainly' expel UK diplomats in countermeasure over poisoning of former spy," 15 Mar. 2018
Then reports emerged about another covert program, called Hell, which Uber had used to identify drivers who were working for Lyft and lure them away.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "At Uber, a New C.E.O. Shifts Gears," 30 Mar. 2018
Many countries, naturally, are upset about covert actions by Chinese operatives on their soil.

— The Economist, "China’s law-enforcers are going global," 28 Mar. 2018
But Nader could shed more light on what actually went down and if any covert deals were discussed.

— zeeshan aleem, Vox, "George Nader, one of the Trump-Russia investigation’s most mysterious figures, explained," 28 Mar. 2018
But effective action to blunt Moscow’s espionage, political interference and other covert actions remain modest.

— julian e. barnes, WSJ, "Europe Struggles to Respond to Covert Russian Threats," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'covert.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of covert

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

covert Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of covert

secret, covert, stealthy, furtive, clandestine, surreptitious, underhanded mean done without attracting observation. secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.