What does incognito mean?
Incognito means hidden, unidentified, or operating under an assumed identity. It describes a person, visitor, traveler, or public appearance intended to conceal the individual's true name or status. The word is often used with verbs such as “go,” “travel,” “remain,” and “appear,” making it particularly associated with people who wish to move through public or unfamiliar settings without being recognized. In computing, “incognito mode” or “private browsing” refers to a browsing session that does not retain local history and site data after it ends, although it does not provide complete anonymity online. The term comes from Italian, where “incognito” means “unknown,” and it has a formal but widely understood tone. It is useful when describing both deliberate personal concealment and the broader modern practice of limiting the traces left by online activity.
Concealed or unidentified, especially through the deliberate use of an assumed name or identity.
"The singer made an incognito appearance at the small venue."
Often used before a noun describing a person, although it can also function adverbially.
In a concealed or unidentified manner, especially under an assumed name or identity.
"She traveled incognito to avoid press attention."
Common in the expression “go incognito”; the adjective form is also frequently used instead.
A person whose identity is concealed or unknown, especially one using an assumed name.
"Despite being one of the country's best-known figures, the author remained an incognito."
The noun is relatively uncommon, and the plural is rare.
The plural is uncommon; the adjective form is usually preferred when describing a person whose identity is concealed.
"The disguises allowed the incognitos to move through the crowd unnoticed."
Incognito comes from Italian for “unknown,” the perfect description of a person moving through the world without revealing who they are.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does incognito come from?
The word entered English from Italian incognito, an adverb meaning “unknown” or “unrecognized,” used historically of a person traveling under an assumed identity. Italian borrowed the form from Latin incognitus, formed from in- meaning “not” and cognitus, the past participle of cognoscere, meaning “to get to know.” The same Latin root lies behind English words such as cognition, recognize, and cognizant.
How incognito is actually used
The word can be used before a noun, as in “an incognito visitor,” or adverbially, as in “to travel incognito.” It is usually associated with deliberate concealment of identity. In computing, “incognito mode” refers to a session that does not retain the user's local browsing history; it does not make a user anonymous to websites or network providers.
Easily confused with incognito
Anonymous describes someone whose identity is not known, while incognito specifically suggests that identity is being deliberately concealed, often by using an assumed name.
Disguised emphasizes a changed outward appearance, whereas incognito can involve any method of concealing identity, including a false name or simply avoiding recognition.