secrecy

noun se·cre·cy \ ˈsē-krə-sē \

|Updated on: 24 Jun 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

See secrecy defined for English-language learners

See secrecy defined for kids

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

The issue of secrecy has been simmering since the F.B.I. raids.

— benjamin weiser, New York Times, "President Trump and His Fixer Seek Secrecy for Documents in Probe," 7 June 2018
Barring the emergence of new shadiness, the most damning thing about the group is its overall aloofness and air of secrecy.

— martin fritz huber, Outside Online, "Galen Rupp Is Hard to Love," 17 May 2018
Although their arrival at the Alamo is documented by a videographer, a certain amount of secrecy surrounds the rings’ ensuing sleepover.

— krista torralva, San Antonio Express-News, "UTSA tradition puts class rings in Alamo overnight," 10 May 2018
That’s when Attorney General Maura Healey’s office stepped in — on the side of secrecy.

— todd wallack, BostonGlobe.com, "AG Maura Healey promises transparency, but critics say her record falls short," 7 May 2018
There was a lot of secrecy, there was a lot of people feeling afraid to say anything.

— anna silman, The Cut, "9 Rajneeshpuram Residents on What Wild Wild Country Got Wrong," 19 Apr. 2018
After returning to the United States in 1976, her husband became director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and a veil of secrecy isolated her from his work.

— cathleen decker, latimes.com, "Barbara Bush dies at 92; popular first lady was also the mother of a president," 18 Apr. 2018
Investors placing bets on commercial lawsuits have long operated under a veil of secrecy.

— jacob gershman, WSJ, "Lawsuit Funding, Long Hidden in the Shadows, Faces Calls for More Sunlight," 21 Mar. 2018
That Sean John was born under a cloak of secrecy is surprising considering that in 1997 Diddy was rocketing to the top of the world.

— cam wolf, GQ, ""He Was the Ultimate Creative Director": The Oral History of Sean John, Diddy's Game-Changing Clothing Label," 20 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of secrecy

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1556

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for secrecy Spanish Central: Translation of secrecy Nglish: Translation of secrecy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of secrecy for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up secrecy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

secrecy

Definition of secrecy

Examples of secrecy in a Sentence

Recent Examples of secrecy from the Web

Origin and Etymology of secrecy

secrecy Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to SECRECY

Related Phrases

SECRECY Defined for English Language Learners

secrecy

Definition of secrecy for English Language Learners

SECRECY Defined for Kids

secrecy

Definition of secrecy for Students

Learn More about secrecy

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

What It Means to Go ‘Radio Silent’

Words for Summer: A Quiz

If the Shoe Fits

Trending: 'Asylum' Trends as Policies Draw Attention

Ghost Word