Conceal: Hiding Something Deliberately
To conceal is to hide something so it will not be found or noticed. Unlike hide, it always implies intention, which is why the word turns up so often in law.
Conceal means to keep from sight or knowledge. Intention is built in: you can hide behind a tree by accident of position, but you cannot conceal anything by accident. That is exactly why legal language prefers it.
- To hide from sight. *A door concealed behind the panelling.*
- To keep secret. *He concealed the debt from his family.*
- To disguise a feeling. *She could not conceal her disappointment.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | conceal | Conceal the wiring. |
| Noun | concealment | Concealment of evidence. |
| Adjective | concealed | A concealed entrance. |
| Noun | concealer | A cosmetic concealer. |
| Opposite | reveal | Reveal the answer. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Concealed entrance ahead.A road sign warning of a hidden junction.
- He was charged with concealing assets.Legal use — the intention is the offence.
- She barely concealed her irritation.Barely concealed is a fixed and slightly amused phrase.
Conceal, hide, disguise and suppress
- Conceal — deliberately keep from being seen or known
- Hide — the everyday word, and can be unintentional
- Disguise — change the appearance so it is not recognised
- Suppress — stop something being expressed or published
- Withhold — refuse to give, rather than actively hide
From Old French *conceler*, from Latin *concelare*, from *com* (thoroughly) and *celare*, to hide. The same *celare* is behind cell, cellar and occult — all places or things kept out of sight.
Conceal or hide?
Hide is neutral and everyday. Conceal is formal and always deliberate, which is why contracts and charges use it.
What does barely concealed mean?
Obvious to everyone despite an attempt to hide it, usually of an emotion such as contempt or delight.