Meaning & use
under the table
Done secretly or illegally, especially involving money that is not officially reported.
See it in a sentence
He was paid under the table in cash to avoid paying taxes on his earnings.
The under-the-table deal between the two companies later triggered a corruption investigation.
A note on using this word
Almost always implies dishonesty or an attempt to avoid taxes, regulations, or public scrutiny.
Words with a similar meaning
illicit
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
legitimateofficial
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