under-the-counter

adjective

un·​der-the-count·​er ˈən-dər-ṯẖə-ˈkau̇n-tər 

: surreptitious and usually irregular or illicit

under-the-counter liquor sales

Examples of under-the-counter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By night, his father would lend him his binoculars to spy on women through their windows, filling in any gaps in his anatomical understanding with whatever under-the-counter girly magazines had managed to wiggle through Italy’s draconian censorship. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2024

Filtering your water If PFAS levels are concerning, consumers can purchase an under-the-counter water filter for their tap. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

Have a variety — an overhead light; warm-toned, under-the-counter LED task strips. —Kim Cook, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

from the hiding of illicit wares under the counter of stores where they are sold

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for under-the-counter

• counter
• encounter