co·vert
ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt 
kō-ˈvərt
ˈkə-vərt
kō-ˈvərt
ˈkə-vərt
1
: not openly shown, engaged in, or avowed : veiled
a covert alliance
a covert military operation
covert racism
covertly
adverb
covertness
noun
1
2
: a feather covering the bases of the quills of the wings and tail of a bird see wing illustration
3
: a firm durable twilled sometimes waterproofed cloth usually of mixed-color yarns
Synonyms
Examples of covert in a Sentence
Adjective
He has taken part in a number of covert military operations.
spy agencies taking covert action
Noun
set up a covert from which to watch wildlife without being detected
the rabbit rushed to the safety of the nearest covert
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas Rid, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2024
The covert influence campaign was aimed at the American public ahead of the presidential election, US officials said.
—Olesya Dmitracova, CNN, 24 Sep. 2024
Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024
The president is the country’s top intelligence consumer and the only person who can authorize a covert
This article is part of our premium archives.
—Jami Miscik, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2017
See all Example Sentences for covert 
Adjective
Since 2022, newspapers, researchers, and the French, German, and U.S. governments have mounted major efforts to expose fresh details about the covert campaigns.
—Thomas Rid, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2024
The covert influence campaign was aimed at the American public ahead of the presidential election, US officials said.
—Olesya Dmitracova, CNN, 24 Sep. 2024
Noun
But keeping the commercial covert was especially challenging after his wife, Martel Thompson Hale — who is a makeup artist — worked with him on the ad.
—Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024
The president is the country’s top intelligence consumer and the only person who can authorize a covert
This article is part of our premium archives.
—Jami Miscik, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2017
See all Example Sentences for covert
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'covert.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near covert
Cite this Entry
“Covert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/covert. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
covert
1 of 2 adjective
co·vert
ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt
kō-ˈvərt
kō-ˈvərt
ˈkəv-ərt
1
: not openly made or done
covert military operations
2
: covered over : sheltered
a covert nook
covertly
adverb
covertness
noun
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