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 The element of secrecy and urgency is also common, said Anand. USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024 By contrast, the radio silence from Middleton’s camp and secrecy over her surgery only poured fuel on the conspiracy fire. Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 America’s national security state is a gargantuan and decentralized labyrinth, protected from public—or even Congressional—scrutiny by concentric circles of secrecy and deception. Lucas Ropek / Gizmodo, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 OpenAI’s commitment to secrecy is starting to seem like an anachronism. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 Mar. 2024 Ultimately, my secrecy was protection for my daughter. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 But both are so bound by repression and secrecy that they’re almost doomed to be dramatically inert. Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Beyond minor disagreements, like Ashley’s dog sleeping in their bed, the two have argued about Manuel’s secrecy and whether Ashley will be a part of his children’s lives, as well as her belief in the occult and how explosive reactions. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024 More concerning to the EFF specifically is how Proposition E allows for a certain level of secrecy around surveillance technologies trialed by SFPD, for as long as a year without being disclosed, Hussain says. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024

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 29 Mar. 2024.

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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