secrecy

noun

se·​cre·​cy ˈsē-krə-sē How to pronounce secrecy (audio)
plural secrecies
1
: the condition of being hidden or concealed
2
: the habit or practice of keeping secrets or maintaining privacy or concealment

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 episodes of RHOC, Beador has been repeatedly challenged by her costars over her secrecy around the relationship. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023 Federal prosecutors investigating Paxton took testimony in August before a grand jury in San Antonio, according to two people with knowledge of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of secrecy rules around the proceeding. Paul J. Weber and Juan A. Lozano The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2023 The issue, McAfee noted, is whether state laws dictating that secrecy applies to special purpose grand juries, an investigative body that is rarely used by Georgia prosecutors and has drawn scrutiny for its use in the 2020 election case. Holly Bailey, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Sep. 2023 The court’s nine members value their innermost discussions’ secrecy as both a practical means to freely discuss the cases before them and as an institutional way to bolster the court’s legitimacy. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 12 Sep. 2023 After years of secrecy, the group has started on an apology tour. Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023 The White House Situation Room — a space of great mystique and even greater secrecy — just got a $50 million facelift. Colleen Long, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023 McKellen says that the secrecy and threat of scandal that Erskine has to endure is what pushes him to the dark side. Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Sep. 2023 The event was shrouded in secrecy until Tuesday evening when the mercenary leader's spokespeople revealed the location of his grave. Fox News, 31 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'secrecy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier secretie, from Middle English secretee, from secret secret

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of secrecy was in 1556

Dictionary Entries Near secrecy

Cite this Entry

“Secrecy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secrecy. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

secrecy

noun
se·​cre·​cy ˈsē-krə-sē How to pronounce secrecy (audio)
plural secrecies
1
: the habit of keeping secrets : secretiveness
2
: the quality or state of being hidden or concealed

More from Merriam-Webster on secrecy

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