cover-up

noun

cov·​er-up ˈkə-vər-ˌəp How to pronounce cover-up (audio)
1
a
: a device or stratagem for masking or concealing
his garrulousness is a cover-up for insecurity
b
: a usually concerted effort to keep an illegal or unethical act or situation from being made public
2
: a loose outer garment

Examples of cover-up in a Sentence

that contrived burglary was just a cover-up for murder
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There will be no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned — and anyone from the prior or current Bureau who undermines this will be swiftly pursued. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025 Heating up the world for future generations is a crime, but this is a cover-up. Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025 Today, descendants of those killed and harmed by the Elaine Massacre, still are working to correct the historical record, tell their own stories, and demand reparations for crimes and cover-ups for which no white perpetrator was ever truly held accountable. Christmaelle Vernet & Kathy Roberts Forde / Made By History, TIME, 28 Feb. 2025 Irina Shayk commanded attention in a very sheer mesh cover-up that showed off her bedazzled underwear, as well as an oversize army green puffer jacket. Michelle Lee, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cover-up

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cover-up was in 1927

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cover-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover-up. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

cover-up

noun
cov·​er-up
ˈkəv-ə-ˌrəp
: a planned effort to conceal a wrongful act or situation

More from Merriam-Webster on cover-up

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