Link Centre Dictionary

clandestine

clan·des·tine

UK/klænˈdɛst(a)ɪn/ US/klænˈdɛs.tən/ uncommon

adjective

1.

conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods

  • “clandestine intelligence operations”
  • “cloak-and-dagger activities behind enemy lines”
  • “hole-and-corner intrigue”
  • “secret missions”
  • “a secret agent”
  • “secret sales of arms”
  • “surreptitious mobilization of troops”
  • “an undercover investigation”
  • “underground resistance”

Origin

From Latin clandestīnus (“secret, concealed”); compare French clandestin.

Related words

Word family

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.