stovepipe
verb
stovepiped; stovepiping; stovepipes
: to transmit (information) to a higher level in an organization through an isolated and narrow channel of communication
This [Pentagon policy] office, which circumvented the usual procedures of vetting and transparency, stovepiped many of its findings to the highest-ranking officials.—
Seymour M. Hersh
Seymour M. HershExamples of stovepipe in a Sentence
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Just take it from Vogue’s Tonne Goodman, who wears her many pairs of stark white Levi stovepipes all year round.
—Christina Holevas, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2025
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Christina Holevas, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Stovepipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stovepipe. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stovepipe
noun
stove·pipe
ˈstōv-ˌpīp 
1
: a metal pipe for carrying off smoke from a stove
2
: a tall silk hat
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