clandestinely

clan·des·tine·ly
C3L1A1N1D2E1S1T1I1N1E1L1Y4
US/klænˈdɛs.tɪn.li/

adverb

In a secret or covert manner.

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Meanings

adverbclandestinely (comparative more clandestinely, superlative most clandestinely)

comparative more clandestinely · superlative most clandestinely

  1. In a secret or covert manner.

    In another moment, Louisa's arms were around her also, welcoming her to Violet Lodge, and pouring on her a thousand thanks, yet asking, with trepidation, "have you brought the dear girls clandestinely?"

    1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVI, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 211
  2. In an illicit way, i.e. not permitted by the law or regulations.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
on the slyunderground

Origin

From clandestine + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 秘密地, 暗中
  • 秘密地 (mìmì de)in a secret, covert manner
  • 暗中 (ànzhōng)in a secret, covert manner
Danish hemmelighedsfuld, hemmelig
  • hemmelighedsfuldin a secret, covert manner
  • hemmeligin a secret, covert manner
  • ureglementeretin an illicit way
Dutch clandestien, heimelijk
  • clandestienin a secret, covert manner
  • heimelijkin a secret, covert manner
  • stiekemin a secret, covert manner
  • clandestienin an illicit way
  • onwettigin an illicit way
  • ongeoorloofdin an illicit way
Finnish vaivihkaa, salaa
  • vaivihkaain a secret, covert manner
  • salaain a secret, covert manner
  • laittomastiin an illicit way
  • lainvastaisestiin an illicit way
French clandestinement
  • clandestinementin a secret, covert manner
German heimlich, verdeckt
  • heimlichin a secret, covert manner
  • verdecktin a secret, covert manner
Italian clandestinamente
  • clandestinamentein a secret, covert manner
Polish tajnie, sekretnie
  • tajniein a secret, covert manner
  • sekretniein a secret, covert manner
Russian скры́тно, исподтишка́
  • скры́тно (skrýtno)in a secret, covert manner
  • исподтишка́ (ispodtišká)in a secret, covert manner
Spanish furtivamente, a hurtadillas
  • furtivamentein a secret, covert manner
  • a hurtadillasin a secret, covert manner
Cite this entry
APA

clandestinely. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clandestinely

MLA

“clandestinely.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clandestinely. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clandestinely,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clandestinely.

Source: clandestinely on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.