secrecy

noun

se·cre·cy | \ˈsē-krə-sē

plural secrecies

Definition of secrecy

1 : the condition of being hidden or concealed

2 : the habit or practice of keeping secrets or maintaining privacy or concealment

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about secrecy

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Examples of secrecy in a Sentence

this administration's steadfast adherence to secrecy is beginning to cost it the trust of the voters

Recent Examples on the Web

In recent weeks, in a bid to improve transparency, administrators have lifted the veil of secrecy that surrounded Dozier and programs like it, allowing The Miami Herald to review century-old records and tour the remote campus. — Carol Marbin Miller, miamiherald, "A painful reunion at school of horror," 11 July 2018 Within a community whose members adhered to varying levels of secrecy about the formulas that went into their rankings, Colley was the most transparent, and his error sparked a debate about how up-front the men behind the computers should be. — Joan Niesen, SI.com, "The Computer Poll Uprising: Creators of the BCS's Most Controversial Component Look Back," 11 July 2018 The operation will be carried out with an unusual level of secrecy under the oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, according to federal lawyers and others familiar with the plan. — New York Times, "Judge Rejects Long Detentions of Migrant Families, Dealing Trump Another Setback," 9 July 2018 Scandal, secrecy in campaign funding and an Animal House culture in Jefferson City undermine the public’s confidence. — kansascity, "Jean Paul Bradshaw," 30 June 2018 The rating system, obtained after years of secrecy by USA TODAY and the Boston Globe, shows that nearly half of VA nursing homes, 60, received one out of five stars for quality of care. — Donovan Slack, Cincinnati.com, "VA nursing homes: Chillicothe gets one star; Cincy, Dayton, Cleveland get two," 17 June 2018 The country was working in extreme secrecy and under the limitations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which bans the import of weapon-producing parts. — Peter Schwartzstein, Smithsonian, "How Saddam and ISIS Killed Iraqi Science," 30 May 2018 The plan for Tuesday was unusual not only for its secrecy, but for its oversight: The Homeland Security Department is not typically involved directly in family reunifications. — New York Times, "Judge Rejects Long Detentions of Migrant Families, Dealing Trump Another Setback," 9 July 2018 The need to maintain military secrecy prevented civilian firefighters from entering the scene, and fire leaped from building to building, incinerating most of the base. — Lucy Cooke, ajc, "US military is interested in bats as possible defenders against bioweapons," 3 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'secrecy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.