Words / B2

und-uh-KUV-uh/ˌʌndəˈkʌvə/

Undercover means working secretly to gather information: an undercover officer; go undercover; an undercover investigation. Covert is a close formal twin; secret is everyday. Do not call ordinary remote work undercover. Journalism and policing: undercover reporting has ethical rules.

Meaning

Working secretly to get information, especially for the police.

Examples

• “An undercover investigation exposed the fake-degree mill.”
• “She went undercover in the warehouse, which is the verb-like phrase.”

Good to know

undercover officer / investigation; go undercover. Formal: covert. Everyday: secret. Police/journalism. Not working from home. Ethics apply.

Near in meaning

covert

New