incognito
/ˌɪnkɒɡˈniːtəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌɪnkɔɡnˈito] /ˌɪnkɑːɡˈniːtəʊ/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌɪnkɔɡnˈito] /ˌin-ˌkäg-ˈnē-(ˌ)tō also in-ˈkäg-nə-ˌtō/ (ame, mw)
incognito — adverb
1. If someone does something incognito, they do it without revealing who they reall
If someone does something incognito, they do it without revealing who they really are, usually by changing their appearance, wearing a disguise, or using a different name.
Aaron travelled incognito, wearing a plain cap and sunglasses so fans would not spot him.
wearing disguise while travelling incognito
Meera booked the hotel room under a false name so she could stay incognito.
Several cabinet members arrived incognito at the airport to avoid the waiting reporters.
Eliska spent a full year living incognito in a small town while writing her memoir.
- anonymously
Focuses on not giving a name; does not require a physical disguise
- in disguise
More specific about changing appearance; can be used for non-famous people too
- undercover
Usually for police or spies working secretly for an official purpose
- covertly
Implies secrecy in general, not necessarily hiding one's identity
文法句型
travel / go / dine / arrive + incognito
remain / stay + incognito
用法筆記
Commonly used with verbs of movement or public presence: travel, dine, arrive, visit, shop, stay. The person hiding their identity is almost always a well-known figure — a celebrity, politician, or writer — who would otherwise attract attention.
常見錯誤
incognito — noun
1. A person, especially a famous or important one, who is hiding their real identit
A person, especially a famous or important one, who is hiding their real identity so that other people will not recognize them.
The baker had no idea her regular customer was an incognito — a famous novelist.
an incognito = a person hiding their identity
Staff at the hotel had no idea the quiet man in the baseball cap was an incognito — a world-famous singer.
Hotel staff treated the bearded guest as an ordinary tourist, unaware he was an incognito.
Camila ate alone at the small restaurant, a perfect incognito — no one recognised the award-winning chef.
- person in disguise
More general; does not imply fame or importance
- mystery guest
Emphasises that the person's identity is intentionally kept from others in a social setting
文法句型
be an incognito
act as an incognito
用法筆記
Very rare in everyday English. This countable sense is mostly found in literary or historical writing. The more common way to express the idea is with the adverb: 'He travelled incognito' rather than 'He was an incognito.'
常見錯誤
2. The state in which you hide your real identity, or the false name and appearance
The state in which you hide your real identity, or the false name and appearance you adopt to avoid being recognised — for instance, a celebrity travelling under an assumed name.
The actress enjoyed the incognito of walking through the park without being recognized.
enjoy the incognito of [activity]
Eitan maintained his incognito for weeks using a fake passport and dyed hair.
The prince's incognito was broken when a waiter recognized his distinctive ring.
After three months of strict incognito, the spy resumed using his real name.
- anonymity
Broader — the state of being unnamed, not necessarily through disguise
- secrecy
General concealment; not limited to identity
- concealment
The act of hiding something; more general in scope
- recognition
Being known and identified by others
- fame
Widespread public knowledge of who you are
文法句型
maintain / break / drop + possessive + incognito
用法筆記
This uncountable sense appears in possessive constructions ('his incognito', 'the prince's incognito') and pairs with verbs like maintain, break, drop, or enjoy. Often used when talking about a celebrity or public figure trying to avoid attention in a specific situation.