incognito

USAGE SUMMARY

"incognito" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to mean someone who is keeping their identity secret. For example, "He moved to the city incognito, wanting to escape the attention of his fame."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were led by "Rosewater", an incognito Revolutionary Guardsman who insisted Bahari's Sopranos DVDs were really "pornos", and that the Cambodian visa in his passport was written in Hebrew.

The Guardian

It seems unfair that these vital micro-machines should be so incognito.

The Guardian

John Elkann, the chairman of Fiat (and a member of The Economist's board), worked incognito at a number of different family-related businesses before stepping up to the top job.

The Economist

The experience left its mark on him, a member of one of Italy's richest families who had boarded incognito.

The Economist

On the verandah, BBC hacks back from incognito trips to Zimbabwe, Mozambican electoral analysts and local investigative reporters compare notes.

The Economist

He would steal upstairs, when foreign-policy adviser at Number 10, to watch Wimbledon on television; he would travel incognito to Beijing, once to negotiate the new Hong Kong airport, and would be snapped pacing in the grounds of the Summer Palace, looking much like George Smiley.

The Economist

THE motif of the ruler who passes incognito among his subjects, getting in touch with ordinary people and his own mortal side, is a recurrent one in myth and literature.

The Economist

ONCE they have leaked secret information, most whistleblowers do their best to remain incognito.

The Economist

The FAA will also dramatically increase the number of plain-clothes marshalls flying incognito on planes in America.

The Economist

Firms paid agents to stay in their hotels, sometimes incognito, to check these rules were met.In the early 20th century Ellsworth Statler, an American entrepreneur, was the first person to codify the operation of a hotel group, using the motto "a room and a bath for a dollar and a half".

The Economist

Saudi women, for instance, recount how they use the niqab to meet boyfriends or lovers incognito.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incognito" to emphasize a deliberate effort to hide one's identity, often to observe or participate without being recognized.

Common error

Don't assume that using "incognito" mode on a web browser guarantees complete anonymity. It primarily prevents local storage of browsing data, but doesn't necessarily hide your activity from network administrators or websites.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "incognito" is to serve as an adverb, modifying verbs to describe the manner in which an action is performed, namely, without revealing one's identity. As Ludwig AI highlights, it can also function as a noun or adjective depending on the context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

22%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "incognito" functions primarily as an adverb, describing actions performed while concealing one's identity. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and it enjoys very common usage across diverse sources, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedias. While often used to describe a deliberate effort to remain hidden, remember that tools like browser "incognito" mode offer limited anonymity. For semantically related alternatives, consider "undercover", "in disguise", or "anonymously". Ultimately, "incognito" provides a nuanced way to convey secrecy and the intention to avoid recognition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undercover

Emphasizes a secret investigation or activity, often involving law enforcement.

in disguise

Highlights the act of altering one's appearance to avoid recognition.

anonymously

Focuses on the lack of identification or attribution.

unrecognized

Stresses the state of not being identified or known.

with a false identity

Highlights the adoption of a fabricated persona.

under an assumed name

Indicates the use of a fictitious name to conceal one's real identity.

in secret

Emphasizes the hidden nature of an action or state.

privately

Highlights actions done without public knowledge.

out of sight

Suggests being hidden from view or notice.

behind the scenes

Refers to actions or influences that are not publicly visible.

FAQs

How can I use "incognito" in a sentence?

You can use "incognito" to describe someone acting in disguise or anonymously. For example: "The celebrity traveled "incognito" to avoid attracting attention."

What's a good alternative to saying "incognito"?

Alternatives to "incognito" include "undercover", "in disguise", or "anonymously". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "incognito" a noun, adjective, or adverb?

"Incognito" can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb, depending on how it's used in a sentence. For example, it can be used as an adjective (an incognito mission) or an adverb (traveling incognito).

Which is correct, traveling "incognito" or traveling in "incognito"?

Traveling "incognito" is the correct usage. The word itself implies the state of being in disguise or unknown, so the preposition "in" is unnecessary.