Clandestine
adjective
Something done in secret or hidden from view, often because it is illegal or not allowed.
The government was involved in clandestine operations to overthrow the ruling party.
Often appears as...
- clandestine operations
- clandestine activities
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Something secretive designed to escape observation or detection.
She had a clandestine love affair with a man from her office.
Often appears as...
- clandestine affair
- clandestine relationship
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Something done in secret or hidden from view, often because it is illegal or not allowed.
The government was involved in clandestine operations to overthrow the ruling party.
Often appears as...
- clandestine operations
- clandestine activities
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Something secretive designed to escape observation or detection.
She had a clandestine love affair with a man from her office.
Often appears as...
- clandestine affair
- clandestine relationship
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Clandestine often implies wrongdoing or deception.
Despite the company's success, its clandestine practices eventually led to public scandal.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Illegal
'Clandestine' doesn't solely mean illegal; it can be any secret action to avoid attention.
Their clandestine research went unnoticed, preserving the surprise of their scientific discovery.
Pro Tip 3/3Persona Non Grata
Clandestine can refer to a person secretly present or involved in an area or organization.
A clandestine informant leaked the sensitive information to the press.
Compare with
covertfurtivehideprivatesecretstealthysurreptitiousunder cover
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Video examples
The hidden life of Rosa...
As advisor to the NAACP youth group council, she helped young people navigate segregated systems including voter registration and whites-only libraries. Through the cover of the NAACP, Parks strived to bring clandestine civil rights activities into the open. She advocated for civil disobedience training
Video examples
The genius of Marie...
a secret institution that provided clandestine education to Polish youth. By saving money and working as a governess and tutor, she eventually was able to move to Paris to study at the reputed Sorbonne. There, Marie earned both a physics and mathematics degree surviving largely on bread and tea,
Video examples
From pacifist to spy:...
Operators had to lug a conspicuous transmitter through enemy territory, and the clandestine agency couldn’t protect her if she was caught. Noor accepted her assignment immediately. While she was determined to take her pacifist principles as far as possible,
Video examples
Sloths! The strange life...
It mimics the sound of the kiskadee flycatcher. So the female remains covert, even when yodeling for sex at the top of her lungs. Her clandestine booty calls will carry for miles across the canopy, and males will beat a slow path towards her.
Video examples
The hilarious art of...
And so, here's the design, right? And so here's the front and the spine, and it's flat. But the real story starts when you wrap it around a book and put it on the shelf. Ahh! We come upon them, the clandestine lovers. Let's draw them out.
Video examples
The Letter That Led to...
to take charge of a program to research and develop an atomic weapon. It would require tremendous resources. Of that, I have no doubt. I need wide latitude to manage the project-- the scientists, the military, clandestine operations.
Video examples
Who were Las Mariposas,...
the three sisters organized and attended clandestine meetings and distributed pamphlets detailing Trujillo’s violations. In January of 1960, they called representatives together from all over the country
Video examples
The rebel radio that...
State forces terrorized farmers to stop them from joining or aiding the guerrillas. But one group of rebels would not be the operators of Radio Venceremos. This clandestine guerrilla radio began in 1981,
Video examples
A New Age of Exploration...
for the body to be completely disarticulated consumed and widely spread and so using all these different tools have been helpful to understand this very hidden clandestine process
Video examples
How Coca Leaves Become...
I'm not going to lie, it's always a rush getting access to these clandestine worlds. The cocaine pit, the starting point
Video examples
The hidden life of Rosa...
As advisor to the NAACP youth group council, she helped young people navigate segregated systems including voter registration and whites-only libraries. Through the cover of the NAACP, Parks strived to bring clandestine civil rights activities into the open. She advocated for civil disobedience training
Video examples
The genius of Marie...
a secret institution that provided clandestine education to Polish youth. By saving money and working as a governess and tutor, she eventually was able to move to Paris to study at the reputed Sorbonne. There, Marie earned both a physics and mathematics degree surviving largely on bread and tea,
Video examples
From pacifist to spy:...
Operators had to lug a conspicuous transmitter through enemy territory, and the clandestine agency couldn’t protect her if she was caught. Noor accepted her assignment immediately. While she was determined to take her pacifist principles as far as possible,
Video examples
Sloths! The strange life...
It mimics the sound of the kiskadee flycatcher. So the female remains covert, even when yodeling for sex at the top of her lungs. Her clandestine booty calls will carry for miles across the canopy, and males will beat a slow path towards her.
Video examples
The hilarious art of...
And so, here's the design, right? And so here's the front and the spine, and it's flat. But the real story starts when you wrap it around a book and put it on the shelf. Ahh! We come upon them, the clandestine lovers. Let's draw them out.
Video examples
The Letter That Led to...
to take charge of a program to research and develop an atomic weapon. It would require tremendous resources. Of that, I have no doubt. I need wide latitude to manage the project-- the scientists, the military, clandestine operations.
Video examples
Who were Las Mariposas,...
the three sisters organized and attended clandestine meetings and distributed pamphlets detailing Trujillo’s violations. In January of 1960, they called representatives together from all over the country
Video examples
The rebel radio that...
State forces terrorized farmers to stop them from joining or aiding the guerrillas. But one group of rebels would not be the operators of Radio Venceremos. This clandestine guerrilla radio began in 1981,
Video examples
A New Age of Exploration...
for the body to be completely disarticulated consumed and widely spread and so using all these different tools have been helpful to understand this very hidden clandestine process
Video examples
How Coca Leaves Become...
I'm not going to lie, it's always a rush getting access to these clandestine worlds. The cocaine pit, the starting point
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Dan Brown
American Author
Art historians agree that Da Vinci's paintings contain hidden levels of meaning that go well beneath the surface of the paint. Many scholars believe his work intentionally provides clues to a powerful secret... a secret that remains protected to this day by a clandestine brotherhood of which Da Vinci was a member.
Quote examples
Alan Furst
American Author
The way I work: I pick a country. I learn the political history - I mean I really learn it; I read until it sinks in. Once I read the political history, I can project and find the clandestine history. And then I people it with the characters.
Quote examples
Anthony McCarten
New Zealander Novelist
My routine is to create activities for myself unrelated to writing that allow little time for writing. This means that when I do get the chance to write, it is like a stolen luxury, something clandestine and almost forbidden.
Quote examples
Jose Serrano
American Politician
The government can still conduct clandestine searches of innocent people's private information such as library, medical, and financial records. This is wrong and should have been addressed in a true compromise.
Quote examples
Orhan Pamuk
Novelist
I consider myself Istanbul's storyteller. My subject matter is my town. I consider it my job to explore the hidden patterns of my city's clandestine corners, its shady, mysterious places, the things I love.
Quote examples
Matthew Nable
Australian Actor
I tend to keep things that bother me clandestine... well-hidden. I'm also not very good at recognising the reasons that change my moods - they just seem to happen, which is not great for those around me.
Quote examples
Marion Marechal-Le Pen
French Politician
French people should be prioritised; clandestine immigrants get 100 per cent refund on healthcare while two-thirds of French people can't afford medical help. Charity begins at home.
Quote examples
Benjamin Wittes
American Journalist
It's hardly a news flash that a secret, clandestine intelligence agency might resist giving out information about its operations when not not legally required to do so.
Quote examples
David Blunkett
British Politician
I didn't come into politics to have to deal with the issue of clandestine entry, illegal working, or an asylum system that allows a free run for right-wing bigots.
Quote examples
Angela Davis
American Activist
Racism is a much more clandestine, much more hidden kind of phenomenon, but at the same time it's perhaps far more terrible than it's ever been.
Quote examples
Dan Brown
American Author
Art historians agree that Da Vinci's paintings contain hidden levels of meaning that go well beneath the surface of the paint. Many scholars believe his work intentionally provides clues to a powerful secret... a secret that remains protected to this day by a clandestine brotherhood of which Da Vinci was a member.
Quote examples
Alan Furst
American Author
The way I work: I pick a country. I learn the political history - I mean I really learn it; I read until it sinks in. Once I read the political history, I can project and find the clandestine history. And then I people it with the characters.
Quote examples
Anthony McCarten
New Zealander Novelist
My routine is to create activities for myself unrelated to writing that allow little time for writing. This means that when I do get the chance to write, it is like a stolen luxury, something clandestine and almost forbidden.
Quote examples
Jose Serrano
American Politician
The government can still conduct clandestine searches of innocent people's private information such as library, medical, and financial records. This is wrong and should have been addressed in a true compromise.
Quote examples
Orhan Pamuk
Novelist
I consider myself Istanbul's storyteller. My subject matter is my town. I consider it my job to explore the hidden patterns of my city's clandestine corners, its shady, mysterious places, the things I love.
Quote examples
Matthew Nable
Australian Actor
I tend to keep things that bother me clandestine... well-hidden. I'm also not very good at recognising the reasons that change my moods - they just seem to happen, which is not great for those around me.
Quote examples
Marion Marechal-Le Pen
French Politician
French people should be prioritised; clandestine immigrants get 100 per cent refund on healthcare while two-thirds of French people can't afford medical help. Charity begins at home.
Quote examples
Benjamin Wittes
American Journalist
It's hardly a news flash that a secret, clandestine intelligence agency might resist giving out information about its operations when not not legally required to do so.
Quote examples
David Blunkett
British Politician
I didn't come into politics to have to deal with the issue of clandestine entry, illegal working, or an asylum system that allows a free run for right-wing bigots.
Quote examples
Angela Davis
American Activist
Racism is a much more clandestine, much more hidden kind of phenomenon, but at the same time it's perhaps far more terrible than it's ever been.
Example 1 of 10
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