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 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 Alibaba’s backing brings the startup out of relative secrecy and helps establish its credentials alongside more public outfits such as Zhipu and Baichuan. Jane Zhang, Fortune Asia, 5 Mar. 2024 Ukrainian casualties are usually shrouded in secrecy, despite President Zelensky saying last weekend 31,000 troops had died since the Russian invasion began. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 Raising poultry is the state’s leading agricultural industry, but state lawmakers have cloaked the business in secrecy. Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 History of the annual physical For most of the country’s history, the health of the president has been treated with an extreme degree of secrecy, Thomas Balcerski, a presidential historian at Eastern Connecticut State University, told McClatchy News. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 In a letter accompanying the figures, UC Berkeley spokesman Kyle Gibson explained in a statement that the extraordinary operation, cloaked in secrecy, was designed to avoid the sort of conflict that had prevented the university from developing People’s Park for more than half a century. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024 These were the big winners of the night. ‘Scandals and secrets’: On board the world’s most exclusive private residential ship This luxurious vessel, home to multimillionaires and billionaires, is shrouded in secrecy. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 From whispers of overpowering organizations pulling strings from the shadows to historic events shrouded in secrecy, conspiracy theories offer a tantalizing glimpse into the darker recesses of human imagination. Mark Travers, Forbes, 25 Feb. 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 19 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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