Closeted

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈklɒzɪtɪd/

Definitions

1. Referring to someone who conceals their sexual orientation or gender identity
2. Describing a person who is hidden away or secretive about their true self, especially regarding sexual identity
3. Indicative of an individual living in secrecy about their personal feelings or identity, often related to sexuality

Etymology: "Closeted" is built from "closet" in its sense of a state of concealment, with the ordinary adjective ending "-ed" added. The root noun is a small, private room, and the figurative use grew out of that picture of hiding something behind a door. To be "in the closet" meant to keep something private, and the adjective describes someone living that way. The verb "to closet" came first, meaning to shut someone away in a private room, often for a private conference, and the adjective draws on that sense of withdrawal and seclusion. The shift from a physical room to a condition of hiding one's identity is what makes the word so vivid: the closet is something you are inside of, not just something you own.

Synonyms: secretive, hidden

Antonyms: open, revealed