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sleeper cell
noun
: a terrorist cell whose members work under cover in an area until sent into action
Examples of sleeper cell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Season 2 tapped into Cold War paranoia, with Lamb and his team unearthing a Russian sleeper cell operation that exposed some of MI5’s deepest secrets.
—Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
America's intense fear of terrorism after the 9/11 attacks landed hard on the shoulders of Hamid Hayat, whose California upbringing was shattered when he was accused of being part of a terrorist sleeper cell.
—Fifth & Mission Podcast, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2022
Authorities never found a terrorist sleeper cell in Lodi.
—Deepa Fernandes, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Sep. 2021
The idea is that Valentina, working for HYDRA, a Russian sleeper cell or some other entity, is essentially the anti-Phil Coulson, assembling a team of potential foils for what’s left of the Avengers.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 17 Apr. 2021
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Word History
First Known Use
1968, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near sleeper cell
Cite this Entry
“Sleeper cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleeper%20cell. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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