clandestine Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
    hugger-mugger; secret; hole-and-corner; surreptitious; underground; cloak-and-dagger; hush-hush; undercover.
    • 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

WordNet

Clan*des"tine adjective
Etymology
L. clandestinus, fr. clam secretly; akin to celare, E. conceal: cf. F. clandestin.
Definitions
  1. Conducted with secrecy; withdrawn from public notice, usually for an evil purpose; kept secret; hidden; private; underhand; as, a clandestine marriage. Locke. Syn. -- Hidden; secret; private; concealed; underhand; sly; stealthy; surreptitious; furtive; fraudulent. -- Clan*des"tine*ly, adv. -- Clan*des"tine*ness, n.

Webster 1913