secrecy
noun
se·cre·cy ˈsē-krə-sē 
plural secrecies
1
: the condition of being hidden or concealed
2
: the habit or practice of keeping secrets or maintaining privacy or concealment
Synonyms
- closeness
- secretiveness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
this administration's steadfast adherence to secrecy is beginning to cost it the trust of the voters
Recent Examples on the Web Given how often doctors insist on secrecy, say national experts on malpractice claims, the public often never learns about allegations of wrongdoing. 
Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 While work-from-home is a challenge for Marvel security, on-set secrecy has become tougher as well. Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 But concerns about security and secrecy and other sources of friction often limit sharing of more sensitive insights. Dustin Volz, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 The source spoke on condition of anonymity due to rules governing case secrecy. Almudena Calatrava, ajc, 5 Sep. 2022 Scott and her husband, Dan Jewett, donate in relative secrecy. Thalia Beaty, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2022 As directed, the Justice Department has delivered to Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, under seal, a version of the search-warrant affidavit that could be made public without unduly harming the government’s interest in investigative secrecy. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 25 Aug. 2022 SLPs were very useful for companies that wanted to look legitimate while operating with complete freedom and secrecy. Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 24 Aug. 2022 Journalists and newspaper editors, who had raised mounting alarms against government secrecy for years, went into an uproar. WIRED, 19 Aug. 2022 See More
Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 While work-from-home is a challenge for Marvel security, on-set secrecy has become tougher as well. Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 But concerns about security and secrecy and other sources of friction often limit sharing of more sensitive insights. Dustin Volz, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 The source spoke on condition of anonymity due to rules governing case secrecy. Almudena Calatrava, ajc, 5 Sep. 2022 Scott and her husband, Dan Jewett, donate in relative secrecy. Thalia Beaty, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2022 As directed, the Justice Department has delivered to Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, under seal, a version of the search-warrant affidavit that could be made public without unduly harming the government’s interest in investigative secrecy. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 25 Aug. 2022 SLPs were very useful for companies that wanted to look legitimate while operating with complete freedom and secrecy. Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 24 Aug. 2022 Journalists and newspaper editors, who had raised mounting alarms against government secrecy for years, went into an uproar. WIRED, 19 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Phrases Containing secrecy
Kids Definition
secrecy
noun
se·cre·cy ˈsē-krə-sē
1
: the act of keeping things secret
I swore him to secrecy.
2
: the quality or state of being secret or hidden
The meetings were held in secrecy.
secrecy
noun
as in secretiveness
the practice or habit of keeping secrets or keeping one's affairs secret this administration's steadfast adherence to secrecy is beginning to cost it the trust of the voters Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- secretiveness
- privacy
- prudence
- confidentiality
- silence
- closeness
- reticence
- stealth
- subterfuge
- wariness
- circumspection
- concealment
- discretion
- discreetness
- taciturnity
- furtiveness
- covertness
- reserve
- underhandedness
- sneakiness
- slyness
- shiftiness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- openness
- honesty
- frankness
- candor
- indiscretion
- imprudence