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.
And that much of the subsequent cover-up has been a cover-up of the cover-up. Tim Marchman, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024 Just as troubling, however, is that NBC and Evolution (the Vanderpump Rules production company), who have known about Mr. Kennedy’s troubling behavior all along, have been engaged in a multi-year cover-up on his behalf. Liza Esquibias, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024 Such reasoning has been rejected by victims, church reformers and even some bishops who have called for church organizations to be transparent to aid in healing for those who’ve suffered and seek atonement for not just the abuse, but also repeated cover-ups over the years. Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Robert Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024 The probe also investigated allegations of a cover-up by Cruise leadership but found no evidence to support those claims. Lora Kolodny,michael Wayland, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near cover-up

Cite this Entry

“Cover-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover-up. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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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