D-notice

or D no·tice

[ dee-noh-tis ]

noun

, British.

1. a government notice sent to newspapers or other publications requesting them to withhold information for reasons of state security.

D-notice

noun

1. an official notice sent to newspapers, prohibiting the publication of certain security information

Word History and Origins

Origin of D-notice¹

1960–65; D(efence) notice

Word History and Origins

Origin of D-notice¹

C20: from their administrative classification letter

Example Sentences

Another rumour was that the government imposed a "D-notice" - now called a DSMA-notice - on the story.

From BBC

“We put a D-notice on it, which means nobody is allowed to print anything. Of course, the ceremony at the Science Museum was being televised live, but fortunately we were able to cut the transmission before the cameras could focus on you. In fact, nobody knows that it was a fourteen-year-old boy who caused all the chaos.”

From Literature

In Britain, there is a long-standing tacit agreement between the government and media whereby the media receives a notice — known officially as a “Defense and Security Media Advisory Notice” but more commonly called a “D-Notice” — and agrees not to publish certain information relating to national security.

From Washington Post

Moran also rather undermines his "paranoid" charge by confirming that Wilson's own D-notice secretary was, in fact, plotting with others to bring him down.

From The Guardian

Then they – specifically, the secretary of the D-notice committee - wined and dined journalists to appeal to their patriotism to keep stumm.

From The Guardian