secret

adjective

se·​cret ˈsē-krət 

1

a

: kept from knowledge or view : hidden

b

: marked by the habit of discretion : closemouthed

c

: working with hidden aims or methods : undercover

a secret agent

d

: not acknowledged : unavowed

a secret bride

e

: conducted in secret

a secret trial

2

: remote from human frequentation or notice : secluded

3

: revealed only to the initiated : esoteric

4

: designed to elude observation or detection

a secret panel

5

: containing information whose unauthorized disclosure could endanger national security compare confidential, top secret

secretly adverb

Synonyms of secret

• clandestine
• undercover
• sneak
• underground
• covert
• private

Choose the Right Synonym for secret

secret, covert, stealthy, furtive, clandestine, surreptitious, underhanded mean done without attracting observation.

secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority.

the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons

underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

Examples of secret in a Sentence

Her secret wish is to become a senator.

The message was written in secret code.

I don't know the secret password.

He was sent on a secret mission.

They engaged in secret negotiations with the enemy.

She tried to keep her marriage secret.

They've been very secret about their plans.

Recent Examples on the Web

But concerns continued to mount, especially following the 2009 revelation of Iran's Fordow nuclear enrichment facility, which was initially kept secret from the International Atomic Energy Agency. —Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 6 June 2026

All positions in the Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict office require top-secret clearance, according to The Washington Post, which is typically granted only after a rigorous vetting process. —Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026

And should they be kept secret? —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026

Everyone worked day and night preparing fuel, provisions, ammunition and secret material. —Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French secré, secret, from Latin secretus, from past participle of secernere to separate, distinguish, from se- apart + cernere to sift — more at secede, certain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing secret

• best-kept secret
• dirty little secret
• in secret
• keep a secret
• let someone in on a (little) secret
• make no secret of
• no secret
• open secret
• poorly kept secret
• secret admirer
• secret agent
• secret ballot
• secret is safe with (someone)
• secret lover
• secret partner
• secret police
• secret Santa
• secret sauce
• secret service
• secret society
• secret to someone's success
• the secret police
• top secret
• trade secret
• well-kept secret

Kids Definition

secret

1 of 2 adjective

se·​cret ˈsē-krət 

1

a

: hidden or kept from knowledge or view

b

: working in secret as a spy or detective : undercover

a secret agent

2

: secluded sense 1

a secret valley

secretly adverb

secret

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: something that cannot be explained : mystery

b

: something kept from the knowledge of others or shared only privately with a few

2

: something taken to be necessary to gain a desired end

the secret of a long life