secrecy

noun se·cre·cy \ ˈsē-krə-sē \

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Examples: secrecy in a Sentence

Definition of secrecy

plural secrecies

1 : the condition of being hidden or concealed

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

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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 of secrecy from the Web

There was so much secrecy and, sort of, this reluctance to talk about her — even from the family, who wanted the film to be made.

— gerrick d. kennedy, latimes.com, "Unflinching Whitney Houston film was the therapy a grieving, damaged family needed," 5 July 2018
Sun Juong laid awake long after Soo Jin had elicited promises of secrecy and tip-toed back to her own room.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award runner-up: "Most Best Happy Korean Bright Star" by Michelle Massie," 2 June 2018
But the university's fetish for secrecy keeps dragging it back to the past.

— fletcher page, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville must stop breaking open records laws and be more transparent," 25 May 2018
Pruitt faces 11 investigations into his spending and management at the EPA, many of which stem from the appetite for secrecy.

— eric lipton, BostonGlobe.com, "Records detail Pruitt’s drive for secrecy at EPA," 7 May 2018
That doesn't apply to the legislature, where the rationale for secrecy boils down to efficiency and longstanding practice.

— colin campbell, charlotteobserver, "Legislature could stand a little sunshine -- Colin Campbell | Charlotte Observer," 21 Mar. 2018
All the while, the company has displayed an aggressive penchant for secrecy, while pushing back release dates—raising further questions.

— rob wile, miamiherald, "There are 8 million reasons why you should care if Magic Leap succeeds | Miami Herald," 15 Mar. 2018
As much as chocolate and watches, Switzerland is known for bank secrecy.

— david enrich, New York Times, "A Swiss Banker Helped Americans Dodge Taxes. Was It a Crime?," 6 Jan. 2018
But there's also a sense of impenetrability, exacerbated by her penchant for secrecy — a characteristic that has led to her greatest vulnerability in this election: the email scandal over her use of a private server.

— jocelyn noveck, Town & Country, "Why Is Hillary Clinton Still So Hard to Define?," 25 July 2016

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.

Origin and Etymology of secrecy

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

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First Known Use: 1556

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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secrecy Synonyms

SECRECY Defined for English Language Learners

secrecy

noun

Definition of secrecy for English Language Learners

: the act of keeping information secret
: the quality or state of being hidden or secret

SECRECY Defined for Kids

secrecy

noun se·cre·cy \ ˈsē-krə-sē \

Definition of secrecy for Students

1 : the act of keeping things secret

I swore him to secrecy.

2 : the quality or state of being secret or hidden

The meetings were held in secrecy.

Learn More about secrecy

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secrecy

Definition of secrecy

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SECRECY Defined for English Language Learners

secrecy

Definition of secrecy for English Language Learners

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