co·vert
ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt 
kō-ˈvərt
ˈkə-vərt
kō-ˈvərt
ˈkə-vərt
1
: not openly shown, engaged in, or avowed : veiled
a covert alliance
a covert military operation
covert racism
covertly
adverb
covertness
noun
1
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
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
Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
There's a dual-sided brush for styling and laying down baby hairs, a handle that doubles as a covert wax case, and a wand for applying the perfect amount of product.
—Liana Schaffner, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
Other forms of restraint related to espionage and covert action are hard to observe.
—Austin Carson, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2023
The covert op has targeted users in the US, Taiwan, UK, Australia, and Japan with positive commentary about China, including the country’s Xinjiang region, all the while criticizing Western foreign policies.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 29 Aug. 2023
When the couple were working as a covert team in Iran, their cover was almost compromised in a language slip-up.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023
Brad Smith, the vice chairman and president of Microsoft, whose researchers analyzed the covert campaign, sharply criticized China for exploiting a natural disaster for political gain.
—Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2023
And although tactics of war—particularly covert operations like the event in question—are typically kept intensely confidential, Musk lifted the lid further on the operation and confirmed Ukraine’s plot.
—Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2023
And the ardently anti-bomb Mathé, suspicious of the project’s covert nature, has no intention of accepting an assignment so shrouded in secrecy that security agents almost outnumber the medical staff.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 Aug. 2023
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2023
The main plot involves Ragnar, the kid whose helmet ceremony was interrupted in the season’s opening scene, being abducted by a dragon that has been bedeviling the covert for a while.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2023
The return to Mando’s covert was even better, as Bo-Katan is also welcomed to walk The Way alongside them, much to her surprise (and conflicted feelings).
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2023
That’s just after Mando is cast out from his Mandalorian covert for the cardinal sin of removing his helmet in the presence of others.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 26 May 2022
Hunting coverts of primary and secondary growth isn’t always easy, and Faust’s advice is to be physically prepared for a day in the uplands.
—Tom Keer, Field & Stream, 2 June 2020
The bonus of finding a spring singing field is that you also will have pinpointed an autumn covert.
—Tom Fegely, Field & Stream, 13 Apr. 2020
Back at the Tribe’s underground covert, the Mandalorian donates his full payment to his people.
—Alex Kane, USA TODAY, 22 Nov. 2019
In July, a bomb targeting the Afghan covert service killed eight members and six civilians, and wounded hundreds more.
—New York Times, 2 Sep. 2019
See More
Adjective
Now, deputies have arrested the girlfriend and the manhunt has gone from covert to overt.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
There's a dual-sided brush for styling and laying down baby hairs, a handle that doubles as a covert wax case, and a wand for applying the perfect amount of product.
—Liana Schaffner, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
Other forms of restraint related to espionage and covert action are hard to observe.
—Austin Carson, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2023
The covert op has targeted users in the US, Taiwan, UK, Australia, and Japan with positive commentary about China, including the country’s Xinjiang region, all the while criticizing Western foreign policies.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 29 Aug. 2023
When the couple were working as a covert team in Iran, their cover was almost compromised in a language slip-up.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023
Brad Smith, the vice chairman and president of Microsoft, whose researchers analyzed the covert campaign, sharply criticized China for exploiting a natural disaster for political gain.
—Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2023
And although tactics of war—particularly covert operations like the event in question—are typically kept intensely confidential, Musk lifted the lid further on the operation and confirmed Ukraine’s plot.
—Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2023
And the ardently anti-bomb Mathé, suspicious of the project’s covert nature, has no intention of accepting an assignment so shrouded in secrecy that security agents almost outnumber the medical staff.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 Aug. 2023
Noun
The show clocks in at under a half hour, focuses on Mando, Grogu, and Bo-Katan in their new home with the Armorer and her covert, and is largely a collection of action set pieces.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2023
The main plot involves Ragnar, the kid whose helmet ceremony was interrupted in the season’s opening scene, being abducted by a dragon that has been bedeviling the covert for a while.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2023
The return to Mando’s covert was even better, as Bo-Katan is also welcomed to walk The Way alongside them, much to her surprise (and conflicted feelings).
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2023
That’s just after Mando is cast out from his Mandalorian covert for the cardinal sin of removing his helmet in the presence of others.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 26 May 2022
Hunting coverts of primary and secondary growth isn’t always easy, and Faust’s advice is to be physically prepared for a day in the uplands.
—Tom Keer, Field & Stream, 2 June 2020
The bonus of finding a spring singing field is that you also will have pinpointed an autumn covert.
—Tom Fegely, Field & Stream, 13 Apr. 2020
Back at the Tribe’s underground covert, the Mandalorian donates his full payment to his people.
—Alex Kane, USA TODAY, 22 Nov. 2019
In July, a bomb targeting the Afghan covert service killed eight members and six civilians, and wounded hundreds more.
—New York Times, 2 Sep. 2019
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'covert.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing covert
Dictionary Entries Near covert
Cite this Entry
“Covert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/covert. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
covert
1 of 2 adjective
co·vert
ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt
kō-ˈvərt
kō-ˈvərt
ˈkəv-ərt
1
: not openly made or done
covert military operations
2
: covered over : sheltered
a covert nook
covertly
adverb
covertness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on covert
Nglish: Translation of covert for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of covert for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about covert
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