off-the-books

adjective

Definition of off-the-booksnext
as in off-the-record

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of off-the-books Another has an off-the-books wager against OpenAI, which is privately held. — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026 In 1985, Marty McFly (played by Lucas Hallauer) is a skateboarding high schooler who is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time machine — ensconced in a DeLorean sports car — by nutty off-the-books scientist Doc Brown (David Josefsberg). — Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026 Helen sends him on an off-the-books job to the London Mother House to use his mind-probing powers on Jasper (William Fichtner), a powerful vampire with a personal vendetta against the Talamasca. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2025 Helen wants him for an off-the-books quest to find a possibly mythical object called the Seven Five Two, and an even more off-the-books quest to find answers about a formative childhood trauma involving the Talamasca. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for off-the-books
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-the-books
  1. off-the-record
  2. clandestine
  3. closed-door
  4. surreptitious
  5. undercover
  6. back-channel
  7. covert
  8. private
Adjective
  • There was an off-the-record discussion, then Patton’s clerk called the case.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The Ukrainian president made the remarks during a two-hour off-the-record meeting with reporters on Saturday, with a transcript released publicly on Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of off-the-record
Adjective
  • The clandestine manner in which LG monitors were installing ad-pushing software onto third-party devices, however, remains seriously concerning.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The clandestine transits have changed the game for the Middle Eastern oil industry.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates departs after a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2026.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 23 June 2026
Definition of closed-door
Adjective
  • And in 1911 a disgruntled ex-Mormon hid a camera under his coat and snapped surreptitious photos of the temple’s interior in an unsuccessful attempt to blackmail the church.
    — Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In early April 2007, I was invited to a surreptitious dinner with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s music director Esa-Pekka Salonen and the orchestra’s president, Deborah Borda.
    — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of surreptitious
Adjective
  • According to government documents, an undercover DHS agent attended a meeting of ICE protesters at Prince of Peace in February.
    — Meg Anderson, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Starring Steve Coogan, Legends chronicles the lives of undercover British customs investigators.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • Pakistan has been an important back-channel player in reaching Iran, and the positive tone of its comments eased oil markets a bit.
    — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The real deals are locked in over late-night dinners, back-channel texts and quiet handshakes months in advance.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of back-channel
Adjective
  • Psyops can be overt or covert, but they’re designed with a clear objective, said Jan Goldman, a professor of intelligence and security studies at The Citadel who has also worked on psyops.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In a recent presentation, OpenAI researchers described how AI agents used a covert message board to plan their next moves.
    — Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • Some are worried about the legal implications of handling such large quantities of previously private game builds as well.
    — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In the village of Bilbasovka in eastern Ukraine, a 13-year-old child and an adult died after Russian troops dropped bombs on private houses Sunday, according to local official Vadim Lyakh.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of private

Browse Nearby Words

off the bat
off-the-books
off-the-cuff
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Off-the-books.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-the-books. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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