What does concealment mean?
Concealment is the act or state of keeping something hidden from view or knowledge. It can refer to physical hiding — as when an animal blends into its surroundings or a person takes cover — or to the deliberate suppression of information, such as concealing evidence, debts, or feelings from others. Because of this dual character, the word appears across very different registers: it is at home in natural-history writing, where camouflage is a survival strategy, and in legal and journalistic contexts, where 'concealment of information' suggests wrongdoing or deceit. The tone of the word depends entirely on what is being hidden and why. Common collocations include 'place of concealment', 'concealment of information', and 'in concealment'. Its antonyms include disclosure, revelation, and exposure. As a formal, slightly literary term, concealment remains useful precisely because it captures both the physical and moral dimensions of hiding.
nounThe action of hiding something or preventing it from being known or discovered; the state of being hidden or kept secret.
- The act of hiding something so that it cannot be seen, found, or known.
- The condition of being hidden or kept out of sight.
- The deliberate withholding of information, especially in legal or official contexts.
"The spy's concealment of the documents nearly went undetected for years."
"The fugitive found concealment in an abandoned barn on the edge of town."
"His concealment of the company's debts eventually led to criminal charges."
Rarely used in the plural; concealment usually functions as an uncountable noun referring to the general act or state of hiding. Plural form may appear in contexts enumerating multiple distinct acts or instances of concealment.
"The investigation uncovered several concealments stretching back over a decade."
Concealment is one of the few words that can describe both a physical hiding spot and the act of withholding truth — and it has been central to legal and military language for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of concealment
Concealment derives from the verb 'conceal', which entered English in the late Middle Ages (around the early 14th century) from Old French 'conceler', itself borrowed from Latin 'concēlāre', meaning 'to hide' or 'to keep secret'. The Latin root combines 'con-' (together) with 'cēlāre' (to hide), the same root that gives us related English words such as 'cell' (via Latin 'cella', a small room) and 'conceit'. The noun form 'concealment' arose later, reflecting the growing need in English legal and administrative language for an abstract term describing the act or state of hiding.
Related word forms
How concealment is actually used
Concealment carries a neutral-to-negative connotation depending on context: in nature writing it may simply describe camouflage or sheltering, but in legal, financial, or interpersonal settings it often implies deliberate dishonesty. It is a formal register word, common in law, journalism, and military usage.
Easily confused with concealment
Congealment means the process of solidifying or thickening (as a liquid turning to jelly), while concealment means hiding or keeping something secret.