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.
Massachusetts state Representative Christopher Flanagan, a Democrat for the First Barnstable District, was indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts in an alleged fraud and cover-up scheme. David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025 Missing California mom’s family digs for homicide ‘cover-up or cleanup’ as police eye persons of interest. Fox News Staff, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2025 Suddenly, the glossy, eminently bingeable legal drama — which centered around hotshot corporate attorney Harvey’s decision to hire brilliant college dropout Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) as his new associate, and the inevitable cover-up and fallout from their long con — got a new lease on life. Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025 Wear it over your swimsuit as an elevated beach cover-up, or pair it with linen pants for a sophisticated travel outfit. Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 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 24 Apr. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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