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working or conducted secretly under the supervision of a law enforcement agency to gather information or catch criminals
a plainclothes police officer or agent working secretly to gather information
What does "undercover" mean in law enforcement slang?
It is used to describe a plainclothes police officer or agent who works secretly to gather information, infiltrate criminal groups, or observe illegal activities without revealing their identity. People typically say an officer is "undercover" when they pose as a civilian, criminal, or other role to blend in. The term originated in early 20th century espionage and police work, becoming standard jargon by the mid 1900s, and has since spread into mainstream vocabulary through crime films, novels, and news reporting.
