adjective

covert

/ˈkəʊvərt/ · say it: KOH·vurt

concealed; secret

In Nuance & Precision

In more detail

1. (adjective) secret or hidden; not done openly

2. (adjective) covered or sheltered

Examples

1. The intelligence agency conducted covert operations in several countries.
2. The covert walkway protected shoppers from the rain.

How to use covert

Covert is used primarily in professional and formal contexts to describe activities, operations, or intentions that are deliberately concealed or conducted without public knowledge. It often implies intentional secrecy for strategic or protective reasons, particularly in military, intelligence, or diplomatic contexts. It carries a more formal and serious tone than 'secret' or 'hidden', and the second meaning (sheltered or covered) is archaic and rarely used in contemporary English.

Common phrases

covert operation
covert action
covert activity
covert surveillance
in covert

Synonyms

secret · hidden · clandestine · surreptitious · undercover

Opposites

overt · open · public

Word family

covertly (adverb) · covertness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 'covert' with 'overt' or mispronounce it; remember it rhymes with 'over' and means the opposite of 'overt'.

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