: not reported or recorded
off-the-books transactions
off-the-books covert operations
off the books adverb

Examples of off-the-books in a Sentence

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.
Whoops: Dozens die south of the border when Joe leads an off-the-books attack on human traffickers. Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025 Charges were dropped Tuesday against the one-time manager of a former off-the-books Gary strip club after the man died, filings show. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025 Few films are more overt in their 1980s-ness than the original Predator, which saw rising star Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Dutch, the leader of an elite, off-the-books team of commandos who go into Central America only to come face-to-face with an interstellar killing machine. Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 June 2025 In 1743, Keith was sent to Fleet Prison for his off-the-books activities. Alexandra Cox, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for off-the-books

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-the-books was in 1975

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Cite this Entry

“Off-the-books.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-the-books. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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