surreptitious UK /ˌsʌɹɪpˈtɪʃəs/US /səˌɹɛpˈtɪʃəs/ adjective1 •Stealthy, furtive, well hidden, covert (especially movements).He read the letter aloud. Sophia listened with the studied air of one for whom, even in these days, a title possessed some surreptitious allurement. — 1921 formsmore surreptitious · most surreptitious