secretive

1
[ see-kri-tiv, si-kree- ]
See synonyms for: secretivesecretiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. having or showing a disposition to secrecy; reticent: He seems secretive about his new job.

Origin of secretive

1
1425–75; late Middle English; back formation from secretiveness (itself modeled on French secrétivité). See secret, -ive

Other words for secretive

Other words from secretive

  • se·cre·tive·ly, adverb
  • se·cre·tive·ness, noun

Words Nearby secretive

Other definitions for secretive (2 of 2)

secretive2
[ si-kree-tiv ]

adjective

Origin of secretive

2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use secretive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for secretive

secretive

/ (ˈsiːkrɪtɪv, sɪˈkriːtɪv) /


adjective
  1. inclined to secrecy; reticent

  2. another word for secretory

Derived forms of secretive

  • secretively, adverb
  • secretiveness, noun

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