Standard Lemma guide

undercover

adj · noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌʌndə(ɹ)ˈkʌvə(ɹ)/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AH2 N D ER0 K AH1 V ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Performed or happening in secret.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A person who works undercover.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To provide too little coverage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • 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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clandestine, cloak-and-dagger, hole-and-corner(a), hugger-mugger, hush-hush, secret, surreptitious, underground

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From under + cover.

Across languages

Translations

42 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: таен (taen) — Performed or happening in secret
  • Esperanto: kaŝa — Performed or happening in secret
  • Esperanto: sekreta — Performed or happening in secret
  • Finnish: salainen — Performed or happening in secret
  • French: clandestin — Performed or happening in secret
  • French: secret — Performed or happening in secret
  • German: heimlich — Performed or happening in secret
  • Greek: μυστικός (mystikós) — Performed or happening in secret
  • Greek: αφανής (afanís) — Performed or happening in secret
  • Greek: κρυφός (kryfós) — Performed or happening in secret
  • Italian: clandestino — Performed or happening in secret
  • Portuguese: encoberto — Performed or happening in secret
  • Portuguese: encoberta — Performed or happening in secret
  • Romanian: secret — Performed or happening in secret
  • Romanian: clandestin — Performed or happening in secret
  • Romanian: sub acoperire — Performed or happening in secret
  • Spanish: encubierto — Performed or happening in secret
  • Spanish: clandestino — Performed or happening in secret
  • Turkish: gizli saklı — Performed or happening in secret
  • Turkish: gizlice — Performed or happening in secret
  • Turkish: saman altından — Performed or happening in secret
  • Turkish: gizli kapaklı — Performed or happening in secret
  • Vietnamese: bí mật — Performed or happening in secret
  • Vietnamese: nằm vùng — Performed or happening in secret
  • Bulgarian: под прикритие (pod prikritie) — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • Esperanto: inkognita — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • Esperanto: kaŝa — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • Finnish: vakoilu- — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • French: secret — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • German: verdeckt — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • Greek: μυστικός (mystikós) — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • Italian: sotto copertura — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • Romanian: sub acoperire — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • Spanish: incógnito — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • Spanish: de incógnito — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • Spanish: secreto — Employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
  • Bulgarian: таен агент — A person who works undercover
  • Chinese Mandarin: 卧底 (wòdǐ) — A person who works undercover
  • Esperanto: sekreta agento — A person who works undercover
  • Esperanto: inkognito — A person who works undercover
  • French: agent secret — A person who works undercover
  • Greek: μυστικός πράκτορας (mystikós práktoras) — A person who works undercover
Real reading context

undercover in complete knowledge articles