top-secret

[ top-see-krit ]

adjective

1. bearing the classification top-secret, the highest level of classified information.
2. limited to persons authorized to use anything so classified. Compare classification ( def 5 ).

top-secret

adjective

1. containing information whose disclosure would cause exceedingly grave damage to the nation and therefore classified as needing the highest level of secrecy and security

Word History and Origins

Origin of top-secret¹

First recorded in 1940–45; top ¹ + secret

Example Sentences

Trump has likened the new initiative to the Manhattan Project, a top-secret World War Two programme to develop the first nuclear weapons.

From BBC

In that role, he had top-secret security clearance.

From BBC

“How can you break into this top-secret project?”

From BBC

They have now grown to about 5ft tall, the BBC discovered on a visit to the top-secret greenhouse where they are kept.

From BBC

Earlier that day in Octobert 1969, he had opened the safe in his office at Rand in Santa Monica, where he worked as an analyst, and removed the first batch of top-secret papers.

From Los Angeles Times