sub rosa
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Covert surveillance video used as evidence against applicants for workers' compensation to show they are not in fact (seriously) injured.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Questions about Esparza's surveillance practices were exacerbated by an incident in December 2003, in which another subject of a sub-rosa complained of being followed by Esparza wielding a video camera.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “sub rosa” mean?
Covert surveillance video used as evidence against applicants for workers' compensation to show they are not in fact (seriously) injured.
Is “sub rosa” formal or informal?
sub rosa is generally slang.