What does coverup mean?
A coverup is an attempt to keep damaging information — usually evidence of wrongdoing, scandal, or incompetence — hidden from public view, often through lies, destroyed records, or intimidation of witnesses. The word functions as a noun and is most frequently encountered in political and journalistic contexts, where allegations of a coverup tend to be more damning than the underlying offense itself; history's most famous example remains Watergate, where the concealment rather than the break-in ended a presidency. The term derives from the phrasal verb "cover up" and is often styled "cover-up" in British usage. It carries an unmistakably negative connotation, implying deliberate deceit rather than mere privacy or discretion. A minor secondary sense denotes a light garment worn over swimwear at the beach or pool.
An attempt or scheme to prevent something discreditable from becoming publicly known.
"Investigators concluded that officials had engaged in an elaborate coverup lasting several years."
Frequently hyphenated as "cover-up," especially outside North America.
A loose garment worn over swimsuits or other clothing, typically at a beach or pool.
"He slipped on a linen coverup before walking back from the shore."
Informal, chiefly American usage.
Standard plural; sometimes rendered "cover-ups" in hyphenated style.
"The archive documented decades of corporate coverups across the industry."
Watergate wasn't the crime that brought down Nixon — it was the coverup, proving that hiding a misdeed can destroy you faster than committing it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coverup
The noun "coverup" arose in the twentieth century from the older phrasal verb "cover up," combining the verb "cover" — from Old French "covrir," ultimately from Latin "cooperire," meaning to shut or cover completely — with the adverbial particle "up." The word became firmly established in American English amid the political scandals of the mid-twentieth century, particularly Watergate. It shares its Latin root with related words such as "recover," "discover," "covert," and "curfew."
How coverup is actually used
Often written as two words with a hyphen ("cover-up"), especially in British English; the closed form "coverup" is common in American journalism. The word carries strongly negative connotations of deception and institutional dishonesty. The clothing sense is informal and chiefly American.
Easily confused with coverup
"Cover up" (two words) is a verb phrase meaning to hide or conceal something, while "coverup" (one word) is the noun naming the act or instance of concealment.