secrecy

[ see-kruh-see ]

noun

, plural se·cre·cies

1. the state or condition of being secret, hidden, or concealed:

   a meeting held in secrecy.

   Synonyms: covertness, confidentiality, stealth, privacy

2. the state of being apart from other people; privacy; seclusion.
3. ability to keep a secret.
4. the habit or characteristic of being secretive; reticence.
5. Archaic. something that is secret or mysterious:

   the secrecies of nature.

secrecy

/ ˈsiːkrɪsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being secret
2. the state of keeping something secret
3. the ability or tendency to keep things secret

Other Words From

• anti·secre·cy adjective
• non·secre·cy noun plural nonsecrecies
• pro·secre·cy adjective
• semi·secre·cy noun
• super·secre·cy noun plural supersecrecies

Word History and Origins

Origin of secrecy¹

1375–1425; obsolete secre (< Middle French secré secret ) + -cy; replacing late Middle English secretee, equivalent to secre + -tee -ty ²

Example Sentences

But much of the action takes place in ordinary rooms and pubs, often dimly lighted as befits a milieu cloaked in secrecy and insularity.

From Los Angeles Times

But instead, Grasso claims, she was passed over as “officer in charge” when her superiors learned she had agreed to help blow the whistle on what she and others saw as a deep-seated culture of violence, secrecy and cover-ups.

From Los Angeles Times

As the New York Times reported at the time, “Nothing else in Mr. Obama’s first term has baffled liberal supporters and confounded conservative critics alike as his aggressive counterterrorism record. His actions have often remained inscrutable, obscured by awkward secrecy rules, polarized political commentary, and the president’s own deep reserve.”

From Salon

Some details of the case are unclear, such as whether the soldiers pleaded guilty, as the trial was held behind closed doors due to military secrecy, Russian media reported.

From BBC

And it refused for now to put on hold a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling allowing some state voters who mistakenly failed to include required secrecy sleeves over their absentee ballots to vote instead using a provisional ballot at a polling place.

From Slate

Related Words

• confidence
• confidentiality
• isolation
• mystery
• reticence
• silence
• solitude