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 Jeff Shell, the former president of Paramount Skydance, has resolved litigation with a gambler who accused him of leaking confidential company information and who sought $150 million for off-the-books crisis PR work. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 11 June 2026 Polk estimates that the majority of gamblers who don’t have other sources of income, such as sponsorships or social media channels, will either fail to turn a profit under the new rules or begin playing in more off-the-books games. — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026 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 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
  • In all, the on-the-record remarks lasted about 30 minutes and were followed by a larger off-the-record mixer with the media involving additional Skydance executives.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Sacramento Kings media day Monday apparently came with some off-the-record player reviews that accidentally went on the record.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of off-the-record
Adjective
  • As Béatrice’s amateur detective work pulls her in deeper, the strands begin to suggest a conspiracy, one marked by mysterious disappearances and the clandestine sway of the Vatican.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Other entries referenced covert access, clandestine technical operations and telecommunications interception.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 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
  • To unearth these surreptitious practices, Gamers Nexus partnered up with independent security researchers and Level1Techs.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 10 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of surreptitious
Adjective
  • Some of us live in Chicago and are well aware of the lore of the Mirage Tavern, a real bar that undercover reporters operated in the 1970s to expose corruption in the city.
    — Jodi S. Cohen, ProPublica, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators also said Ellaboudy advised an undercover FBI confidential human source posing as a representative of a Houthi colonel.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • Rubio has led back-channel talks with Raúl Castro’s grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, but Cuban officials say talks with the administration are at a stalemate.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of back-channel
Adjective
  • In the air, stealth aircraft require covert, point-to-point laser links to exchange target data without revealing their position to adversary direction-finding systems.
    — Rohit Jha, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In early January, the United States captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a covert military operation.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • Passengers will enjoy the amenities and seamless nature of private jet travel at a fraction of the cost.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Mercury in your private 12th House squares Mars in your 9th, stirring big questions about beliefs, travel, learning, or where you are headed next.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of private

Browse Nearby Words

off the bat
off-the-books
off-the-cuff
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Cite this Entry

“Off-the-books.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-the-books. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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