Undercover: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ•ต๏ธ
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undercover

 

[ หŒสŒndษ™rหˆkสŒvษ™r ]

Adjective / Adverb
Context #1 | Adjective

police operation

working or operating in a secret way for the purpose of catching criminals or collecting information

Synonyms

covert, disguised, hidden, secret.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
undercover

Used when someone is employed to observe or investigate in secrecy, often in law enforcement or journalism.

  • The detective went undercover to infiltrate the criminal organization
  • The journalist worked undercover to expose the illegal activities
covert

Used for operations, actions, or missions that are done secretly, often for military or espionage purposes.

  • The government conducted covert operations to gather intelligence
  • The spy was involved in a covert mission
secret

Used for information, actions, or objects that are intentionally kept unknown or concealed.

  • They had a secret meeting to discuss the project
  • The recipe for the famous sauce is a closely guarded secret
hidden

Used when something is placed out of sight or not easily found, generally not referring to people.

  • The treasure was hidden under the old oak tree
  • The key was hidden behind the painting
disguised

Used when someone or something is altered in appearance to conceal identity or purpose.

  • She attended the party disguised as a famous actress
  • The thief was disguised as a security guard

Examples of usage

  • The detective went undercover to investigate the drug cartel.
  • She worked as an undercover agent for several years before her true identity was revealed.
  • The police set up an undercover operation to bust the illegal gambling ring.
  • The undercover officer managed to infiltrate the criminal organization.
  • The undercover cop wore a disguise to blend in with the crowd.
Context #2 | Adverb

working secretly

in a way that keeps one's true identity or intentions secret

Synonyms

clandestinely, covertly, secretly, stealthily.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
undercover

Note: 'undercover' is listed twice in your input. See above entry for context and examples.

  • Repeated for clarification
covertly

Used when an action is done secretly and often involves some level of disguise or deception, often in military or intelligence contexts.

  • The operation was conducted covertly to avoid international scrutiny
  • He obtained the information covertly to avoid raising suspicion
secretly

Refers to doing something without others knowing, not necessarily with a negative connotation. This term is broader and can be used in more everyday situations.

  • She secretly planned a surprise party for her friend
  • He secretly hoped to get the promotion
stealthily

Implies doing something in a very quiet, careful, and sneaky manner to avoid detection. Often used in contexts requiring physical silence and cautious movements.

  • The cat moved stealthily through the grass
  • The thieves entered the building stealthily to avoid setting off the alarms
clandestinely

When an action is done in a secretive manner to avoid detection, usually associated with activities that may be illicit or forbidden.

  • They met clandestinely to discuss their plans
  • The documents were passed clandestinely to prevent them from being intercepted

Examples of usage

  • He operated undercover to gather information without drawing attention.
  • She moved undercover to avoid detection by the enemy.
  • The agents worked undercover to maintain their cover.
  • The informant provided valuable information while staying undercover.
  • They communicated with each other undercover to avoid eavesdropping.

Translations

Translations of the word "undercover" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น infiltrado

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค—เฅเคชเฅเคค

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช untercover

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ di bawah tanah

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟั–ะด ะฟั€ะธะบั€ะธั‚ั‚ัะผ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ tajny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆฝœๅ…ฅใ—ใŸ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท sous couverture

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ encubierto

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท sahte

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋น„๋ฐ€์˜

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชุญุช ุงู„ุบุทุงุก

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tajnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ tajnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅงๅบ•

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ pod krinko

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ leyndur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐัั‹ั€ั‹ะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒแƒคแƒแƒ แƒฃแƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ gizli

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ encubierto

Etymology

The term 'undercover' originated in the mid-20th century and is derived from the combination of 'under' and 'cover.' The concept of working in disguise or secretly has been used throughout history in various forms, but the formal use of 'undercover' in law enforcement and espionage became more prominent in the modern era. Undercover operations have been a crucial part of criminal investigations and intelligence gathering, with individuals going undercover to uncover illegal activities and gather evidence.

See also: cover, coverage, coverall, coveralls, covered, covering, coverings, coverlet, covers, covert, recover, uncover, uncoverable, uncovered, uncovering, uncoverings.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,668, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.