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undercover

undercover

243 6.3
Working secretly to get information about people and groups
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌndərˈkʌvər/
translation icon : encubierto
  • He has been involved in an undercover operation to expose illegal activities in the neighborhood.
  • an undercover agent
  • an undercover officer
  • working undercover

Hi, I'm Jim Gaffigan, and I'm going undercover on the Internet.

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Examples

  • And you are on hidden camera speaking to our undercover journalist.

  • The 2006 FBI investigation revealed that Bryant told the following to an undercover informant:

    Academic text (2017)
  • Link has been undercover this whole time.

  • This guy's been undercover for the last eight months.

  • I remember your undercover work.

  • You know, I once knew this undercover guy who cared so much for his source...

  • My client was seen by undercover operatives go inside the house.

  • How do you know he's not an undercover cop?

  • Except for the undercover agent that intercepted you.

  • She's going in undercover as a substitute kindergarten teacher.

Synonyms

secret
vsundercover
2.0

Hidden so other people do not know about it

involves methods used to gather information or investigate matters
underground
vsundercover
153 5.7

Hidden and done secretly to avoid being found by authorities

focuses more narrowly on investigations and gathering information
covert
vsundercover
117 6.8

Done secretly to avoid being seen or known

is used to gain information or carry out investigations secretly
clandestine
vsundercover
  • Formal
40 8.2

Kept secret because it is illegal or not allowed

is carried out to collect information rather than only hide wrongdoing
stealthy
vsundercover
19 6.3

Acting quietly and secretly to avoid being noticed

aims specifically at investigating or gathering information while concealed
hush-hush
vsundercover
  • Informal
13 7.5

People keep it secret from most others to avoid being noticed

is used for deliberate information gathering rather than casual confidentiality
surreptitious
vsundercover
7 8.5

Done secretly because people would disapprove

is performed specifically to obtain information or evidence covertly
disguised
vsundercover
6 4.2

Hidden so people do not know the true identity or purpose

uses secrecy specifically for information gathering rather than simple deception
cloak-and-dagger
vsundercover
  • Informal
5 8.9

Being secret and mysterious like spy stories

is practical secrecy aimed specifically at collecting information or evidence
incognito
vsundercover
5 7.4

Hiding who you are so people do not recognize you

hides methods to collect information rather than only masking identity

Antonyms

53 5.1

Open and easy to notice, not hidden

Compounds

A person who works secretly for the police to gather information while hiding who they are

Secret work where someone gathers information for the police or security

Secret work by police or agents who hide their identity to gather evidence

How Secret

clandestine
  • Formal
40 8.2
covert
117 6.8
undercover
243 6.3
secret
2.0

Surface Forms

undercover positive

Morphology

undercover = cover (transparent) = under + cover

The meaning 'secret' or 'hidden' is directly derivable from the phrase 'under cover' (beneath cover), so learners who know 'under' and 'cover' can infer this sense. [Postprocessing: moved 'under' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Undercover comes from the idea of being under ('below') a cover ('something that hides'), like hiding under a blanket or coat. So it means working in secret to collect information or do investigations without being seen.