Something that is clandestine is hidden or kept secret, often because it is illegal.
[formal]
...their clandestine meetings.
Synonyms: secret, private, hidden, underground More Synonyms of clandestine
clandestinelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
He left the country clandestinely.
clandestine in British English
(klænˈdɛstɪn)
adjective
secret and concealed, often for illicit reasons; furtive
Derived forms
clandestinely (clanˈdestinely)
adverb
clandestineness (clanˈdestineness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin clandestīnus, from clam secretly; related to Latin celāre to hide
clandestine in American English
(klænˈdɛstɪn)
adjective
kept secret or hidden, esp. for some illicit purpose; surreptitious; furtive
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈsecret
Derived forms
clandestinely (clanˈdestinely)
adverb
clandestineness (clanˈdestineness)
noun
clandestinity (ˌclandesˈtinity)
noun
Word origin
Fr clandestin < L clandestinus, secret, hidden < clam, secret < base of celare, to hide: see conceal
Examples of 'clandestine' in a sentence
clandestine
Last year he ended a clandestine relationship, but still dreams of finding true love.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There's also a guest house for clandestine night-time affairs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Some of the longtime members began organizing clandestine meetings to discuss grievances.
Christianity Today (2000)
So began a series of clandestine meetings.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Once upon a time a clandestine meeting was difficult to arrange.
The Sun (2013)
His work was often clandestine and risky.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She left a note claiming he had clandestine affairs with two women but cops found no evidence of that.
The Sun (2009)
It has a record of clandestine operations in this field which reflects its investigative skill as well as its military role.
Geraghty, Tony The Bullet Catchers (1989)
Last year he ended a clandestine relationship, but still dreams of finding true love.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He recently ended a clandestine relationship, but still dreams of finding true love.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
As with most clandestine meetings about radioactive waste, something went wrong.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A divorced couple begin a clandestine affair.
The Sun (2011)
I arranged clandestine meetings with whistleblowers and spoke to witnesses the police had ignored.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In 1976 he went freelance but continued his contacts and clandestine operations with the agency until he was driven out into the cold and arrested.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The couple flirted openly in front of each other in the their Whitehall office but few people knew that they were engaged in a clandestine relationship.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The police chief of Dubai said that the suspects would not have dared to use American passports for the clandestine operation.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A divorced couple are reunited at their son's college graduation, and begin a clandestine affair.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
clandestine
British English: clandestine ADJECTIVE
Something that is clandestine is hidden or kept secret, often because it is illegal.
...their clandestine meetings.
American English: clandestine
Brazilian Portuguese: clandestino
Chinese: > 暗中的常指非法地
European Spanish: clandestino
French: clandestin
German: geheim
Italian: clandestino
Japanese: >秘密の悪だくみなどの
Korean: 비밀의
European Portuguese: clandestino
Latin American Spanish: clandestino
(adjective)
Definition
secret and concealed
They are said to have been holding clandestine meetings for years.
Synonyms
secret
I was heading on a secret mission that made my flesh crawl.
private
He held a private meeting with the country's political party leaders.
hidden
The den was hidden in the undergrowth.
underground
accused of organizing and financing an underground youth movement
concealed
He was filmed with a concealed camera.
closet
He is a closet folk enthusiast.
covert
They have been supplying covert military aid to the rebels.
sly
They were giving each other sly looks across the room.
furtive
a furtive glance over her shoulder
underhand
The Prime Minister had been involved in underhand financial deals.
surreptitious
They had several surreptitious conversations.
stealthy
It was a stealthy sound made by someone anxious not to be heard.
cloak-and-dagger
under-the-counter
Additional synonyms
in the sense of closet
Definition
private or secret
He is a closet folk enthusiast.
Synonyms
secret,
private,
hidden,
unknown,
concealed,
covert,
unrevealed
in the sense of concealed
He was filmed with a concealed camera.
Synonyms
hidden,
covered,
secret,
screened,
masked,
obscured,
covert,
unseen,
tucked away,
secreted,
under wraps,
inconspicuous
in the sense of covert
Definition
concealed or secret
They have been supplying covert military aid to the rebels.