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Covertness: meaning, definitions and examples

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covertness

 

[ ˈkʌvətnəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in espionage

The quality of being secretive, concealed, or hidden in order to avoid detection.

Synonyms

clandestineness, secrecy, stealth

Examples of usage

  • Her covertness as a spy allowed her to gather valuable information without raising suspicion.
  • The success of the mission depended on the operatives' ability to maintain their covertness.
Context #2 | Noun

in behavior

The tendency to act in a secretive or furtive manner, often with hidden motives.

Synonyms

deceitfulness, disguise, sneakiness

Examples of usage

  • His covertness in his dealings made his colleagues wary of his intentions.
  • The politician's covertness in handling the situation raised questions about his transparency.

Translations

Translations of the word "covertness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 subtileza

🇮🇳 गोपनीयता

🇩🇪 Heimlichkeit

🇮🇩 kerahasiaan

🇺🇦 прихованість

🇵🇱 ukrytość

🇯🇵 隠密性 (おんみつせい)

🇫🇷 discrétion

🇪🇸 discreción

🇹🇷 gizlilik

🇰🇷 은밀함

🇸🇦 خُفْيَة

🇨🇿 utajení

🇸🇰 utajenosť

🇨🇳 隐秘性 (yǐnmì xìng)

🇸🇮 skritost

🇮🇸 leynd

🇰🇿 құпиялылық

🇬🇪 საიდუმლოება

🇦🇿 gizlilik

🇲🇽 discreción

Etymology

The word 'covertness' originated from the Middle English word 'coverteynesse', which in turn came from the Old French word 'covertesce'. The term evolved over time to encompass the idea of secrecy, concealment, and hidden motives. In modern usage, 'covertness' is often associated with espionage, clandestine activities, and secretive behavior.

See also: covertly.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #42,256, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.