secrecy

American  

[see-kruh-see] / ˈsi krə si /

noun

plural

secrecies

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

   a meeting held in secrecy.

   Synonyms:

   covertness, stealth, privacy, confidentiality

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 British  

/ 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 Word Forms

• antisecrecy adjective
• nonsecrecy noun
• prosecrecy adjective
• semisecrecy noun
• supersecrecy noun

Etymology

Origin of secrecy

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

Example Sentences

ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption with perfect forward secrecy across all connections.

From Salon • Mar. 30, 2026

Arguing for secrecy, the security service told judges it had stuck to its policy of not confirming or denying informants' identities.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

"Whatever the outcome, this trial has already shattered the secrecy that has shielded these companies for far too long."

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

Both projects were shrouded in secrecy, something the pair had experienced at MGM when they had to read “Oppenheimer” at Christopher Nolan’s house.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

Yet they were also aware that secrecy could be misused.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

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