concealment
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
The action of hiding something or the state of being hidden.
The deliberate act of keeping something secret or preventing it from being known or seen; can also refer to a physical means of hiding or a state of obscurity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a deliberate, intentional act of hiding, frequently with a sense of deception or protection. It is more formal than 'hiding' and often used in legal, military, or official contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Usage is consistent across both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal British legal and official writing, but the difference is minimal.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties; slightly higher in British English in formal registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
concealment of + NOUN (e.g., concealment of evidence)concealment from + PERSON/ENTITY (e.g., concealment from the authorities)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a veil of concealment”
- “cloak-and-dagger concealment”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the hiding of financial information, assets, or liabilities, e.g., 'The audit revealed a concealment of significant debts.'
Academic
Used in law, criminology, and history to discuss acts of hiding evidence, intentions, or identities.
Everyday
Less common; 'hiding' is preferred. Used for formal situations, e.g., 'The concealment of his past was shocking.'
Technical
Used in military/defence for camouflage and stealth technology; in computing for data hiding or steganography.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was charged with attempting to conceal the proceeds of crime.
- The documents were cleverly concealed within the archive.
American English
- He was charged with attempting to conceal evidence.
- The weapon was concealed under the driver's seat.
adverb
British English
- The spy carried the microfilm concealedly in a fountain pen. (Rare/Formal)
American English
- The sensors were concealedly placed throughout the building. (Rare/Formal)
adjective
British English
- The concealed camera captured the entire incident.
- He spoke with concealed anger.
American English
- The house had a concealed safe behind a painting.
- Her report contained a concealed criticism of the policy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The magician's best trick was the concealment of a large bird under his coat.
- Their concealment in the forest saved them from being found.
- The deliberate concealment of vital evidence led to the case being dismissed.
- The animal's natural concealment makes it very hard to spot in the wild.
- The prosecutor argued that the concealment of assets was tantamount to fraud.
- Military strategy often relies on the concealment of troop movements from satellite surveillance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CONCEAL' + 'MENT' – the state or result of concealing. Imagine a CONcrete SEAL over a MENTal secret, keeping it hidden.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING / IGNORANCE IS DARKNESS. Concealment is preventing sight/light, creating darkness/ignorance.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from 'скрытность' (which implies secretive character). 'Concealment' is an act, not a personality trait. For 'скрытность', use 'secretiveness' or 'reticence'.
- Do not confuse with 'conceal' (verb) and 'concealment' (noun). Russian might use the same root verb form for both.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'concealment' as a verb (incorrect: 'He tried to concealment the truth'). Use 'conceal'.
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'hiding' is more natural.
- Misspelling as 'concealement'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'concealment' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are synonyms, but 'concealment' is more formal and often implies a deliberate, intentional act, sometimes with legal or deceptive connotations. 'Hiding' is more general and neutral.
No. 'Concealment' is only a noun. The verb form is 'to conceal'.
'Concealment of evidence' or 'fraudulent concealment' are very common in legal contexts.
The related adjective is 'concealed' (e.g., a concealed weapon). There is no direct adjective '*concealmental'.