stealth

noun \ ˈstelth \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of stealth

1 a archaic : theft

b obsolete : something stolen

2 : the act or action of proceeding furtively, secretly, or imperceptibly

the state moves by stealth to gather information
—Nat Hentoff

3 : the state of being furtive or unobtrusive

4 : an aircraft-design characteristic consisting of oblique angular construction and avoidance of vertical surfaces that is intended to produce a very weak radar return

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Examples of stealth in a Sentence

The fox uses stealth and cunning to hunt its prey.

Recent Examples of stealth from the Web

Another possibility is that China is less confident in stealth as a primary means of aircraft survival and is hedging its bets by picking a bomber with supersonic capability.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Is This China’s Stealth Bomber?," 9 Apr. 2018
After somehow operating in stealth for almost five years, Domo emerged in 2015 with a $2 billion valuation.

— theodore schleifer, Recode, "Domo, the once secretive $2 billion software company led by Josh James, is moving to go public," 5 Apr. 2018
Nuro, a company started by two veterans of Google’s self-driving car team, came out of stealth recently with its quirky R1 self-driving prototype vehicle.

— andrew j. hawkins, The Verge, "Waymo and Honda reportedly will build a self-driving delivery vehicle together," 2 Apr. 2018
The day before leaving office in January 2017, then-President Barack Obama ordered an airstrike against two ISIS training camps using a pair of B-2 stealth bombers based in Missouri.

— Fox News, "Al Qaeda leader killed by drone strike in Libya identified by Pentagon," 29 Mar. 2018
When the company came out of stealth in early 2017, it was greeted with something like awe.

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "The Man With the Most Valuable Work Experience in the World," 29 Mar. 2018
But this time they are not based on greater numbers of bombs but increased capabilities, stealth and guile.

— neil macfarquhar and david e. sanger, New York Times, "Putin’s ‘Invincible’ Missile Is Aimed at U.S. Vulnerabilities," 1 Mar. 2018
These people should seek hobbies that don’t involve stealth.

— faine greenwood, Slate Magazine, "Merry Crashmas," 3 Jan. 2018
That meeting of the party’s Central Committee was the culmination of months of secretive discussions that are only now coming to light — and show how Mr. Xi maneuvered with stealth, swiftness and guile to rewrite China’s Constitution.

— chris buckley, New York Times, "How Xi Jinping Made His Power Grab: With Stealth, Speed and Guile," 7 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of stealth

Middle English stelthe; akin to Old English stelan to steal

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First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

stealth

adjective

Definition of stealth

: intended not to attract attention : stealthy

a stealth campaign

See stealth defined for English-language learners

Examples of stealth in a Sentence

the SWAT team carried out a stealth raid on the house, which was believed to be harboring a terrorist cell

Recent Examples of stealth from the Web

The Sukhoi Su-57 is Russia's first homemade fifth-generation stealth fighter.

— brad lendon, CNN, "Weapons to watch in Russia's Victory Day parade," 8 May 2018
Eagles, hawks and owls combine stealth, speed, intelligence, muscle and lethal weaponry to snatch birds on the wing, fish from the water and creatures off the ground.

— vincent crampton, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Suwannee County: Experience an ancient hunting art at International Falconry Academy," 6 May 2018
Like all Wiseman films, In Jackson Heights is a stealth statement with some political implications.

— alissa wilkinson, Vox, "5 movies that explain why documentarian Frederick Wiseman is a living legend," 3 May 2018
To demonstrate credible strength, Trump also sent stealth bombers, vowing massive retaliation if the North attacked the U.S. or allies.

— andrew malcolm, San Francisco Chronicle, "Trump’s Korea initiative is risky and unprecedented," 2 May 2018
In its unsettling new TV ad campaign, Facebook attempts to clear its recent history by asking us to return to the good old days, when Facebook was just a way to connect with old friends and not a stealth agent for various evil empires.

— karla peterson, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Why Facebook's new features aren't the upgrade we need," 2 May 2018
So the stealth sonar might simply be part of a larger tactic to keep rival males out of earshot.

— roni dengler, Science | AAAS, "These bats use stealth sonar, likely to evade rivals," 1 May 2018
Among them were blueprints and materials for two major Lockheed Martin projects: the F-22 Raptor, a stealth fighter plane commissioned by the Air Force, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which was launched by nasa in 2005.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "The Digital Vigilantes Who Hack Back," 30 Apr. 2018
Recent tests with these stealth bombers have proven very promising indeed.

— allison barrie, Fox News, "Meet the US military's warship killer: These new missiles will sink enemy ships," 19 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of stealth

1987

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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stealth Synonyms

STEALTH Defined for English Language Learners

stealth

noun

Definition of stealth for English Language Learners

: a secret, quiet, and clever way of moving or behaving

stealth

adjective

Definition of stealth for English Language Learners

—used to describe military aircraft that are designed so that they cannot be easily seen by radar
: done or happening in a secret or quiet way that does not attract attention