Undercover: meaning, definitions and examples

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undercover

[ ˌʌndərˈkʌvər ]

^{Context #1}

police operation

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

Synonyms

covert, disguised, hidden, secret

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}

working secretly

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

Synonyms

clandestinely, covertly, secretly, stealthily

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:

🇵🇹 infiltrado

🇮🇳 गुप्त

🇩🇪 untercover

🇮🇩 di bawah tanah

🇺🇦 під прикриттям

🇵🇱 tajny

🇯🇵 潜入した

🇫🇷 sous couverture

🇪🇸 encubierto

🇹🇷 sahte

🇰🇷 비밀의

🇸🇦 تحت الغطاء

🇨🇿 tajný

🇸🇰 tajný

🇨🇳 卧底

🇸🇮 pod krinko

🇮🇸 leyndur

🇰🇿 жасырын

🇬🇪 დაფარული

🇦🇿 gizli

🇲🇽 encubierto

Word origin

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.