Dictionary

clandestine

adjective clan·des·tine \klan-ˈdes-tən also -ˌtīn or -ˌtēn or ˈklan-dəs-\

: done in a private place or way : done secretly

Full Definition of CLANDESTINE

:  marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy :  surreptitious <a clandestine love affair>
clan·des·tine·ly adverb
clan·des·tine·ness noun
clan·des·tin·i·ty \ˌklan-də-ˈsti-nə-tē, -des-ˈti-\ noun
ADVERTISEMENT

Examples of CLANDESTINE

  1. The clandestine meetings, the passing back and forth of messages between Lodge and the plotters, the coaxing along of the generals, all had the emotional lift of a strong amphetamine. —Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988

Origin of CLANDESTINE

Middle French or Latin; Middle French clandestin, from Latin clandestinus, from clam secretly; akin to Latin celare to hide — more at hell
First Known Use: circa 1528

Synonym Discussion of CLANDESTINE

secret, covert, stealthy, furtive, clandestine, surreptitious, underhanded mean done without attracting observation. secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive <met at a secret location>. covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared <covert intelligence operations>. stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing <the stealthy step of a burglar>. furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness <lovers exchanging furtive glances>. clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered <a clandestine meeting of conspirators>. surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority <the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons>. underhanded stresses fraud or deception <an underhanded trick>.

Rhymes with CLANDESTINE

Browse

2 ENTRIES FOUND:
Next Word in the Dictionary: clandestine evolutionPrevious Word in the Dictionary: clancularAll Words Near: clandestine
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears