Secrecy
ˈsiːkrəsi
Definitions
The condition of being concealed or kept private; the practice of keeping things secret.
ˈsiːkrəsi
The state of being kept secret or private.
The company's research was conducted in strict secrecy.
💡 Simply: Secrecy is when you keep something hidden, like a surprise party or a really good secret recipe. It's about not letting other people know.
👶 For kids: Keeping something a secret.
More Examples
The secrecy surrounding the project fueled speculation.
She valued the secrecy of her diary entries.
How It's Used
"The government maintained secrecy about the negotiations."
"Protecting trade secrets is vital for business success."
"The couple cherished the secrecy surrounding their engagement."
Idioms & expressions
in secret
Done or occurring without others knowing.
"They met in secret."
classified information
Official government information that is kept secret for national security reasons.
"The documents contained classified information."
From Middle French *secrecie*, from Late Latin *secrētia*, from Latin *secrētus* ('secret').
Used since the 14th century. It became more prominent in government and espionage contexts over time.
Memory tip
Think of a closed box – it's in secrecy.