(DoD) An operation sponsored or conducted by governmental departments or agencies in such a way as to assure secrecy or concealment. A clandestine operation differs from a covert operation in that emphasis is placed on concealment of the operation rather than on concealment of the identity of the sponsor. In special operations, an activity may be both covert and clandestine and may focus equally on operational considerations and intelligence-related activities. See also covert operation; overt operation.
Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. 31 January 2011.
| APA | Military Dictionary (DoD). (2011). clandestine operation. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/clandestine_operation/definitions/1960785 |
| Chicago | Military Dictionary (DoD). 2011. "clandestine operation" http://smartdefine.org/clandestine_operation/definitions/1960785 (accessed September 24, 2026). |
| Harvard | Military Dictionary (DoD) 2011, clandestine operation, Smart Define, viewed 24 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/clandestine_operation/definitions/1960785>. |
| MLA | Military Dictionary (DoD). "clandestine operation" 4 April 2011. Web. 24 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/clandestine_operation/definitions/1960785> |