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• secret service
  secret service

  noun

  the branch of governmental service that conducts secret investigations, especially investigations into the military strength of other nations.
• Secret Service
  Secret Service

  noun

  a US government agency responsible for the protection of the president, the suppression of counterfeiting, and certain other police activities

secret service

American  

noun

1. the branch of governmental service that conducts secret investigations, especially investigations into the military strength of other nations.

2. (initial capital letters) the branch of the U.S. Department of the Treasury charged chiefly with the discovery and apprehension of counterfeiters and with providing protection for the president and the president's immediate family.

3. secret work for a government, especially espionage.

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Secret Service ¹ British  

noun

1. a US government agency responsible for the protection of the president, the suppression of counterfeiting, and certain other police activities

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secret service ² British  

noun

1. a government agency or department that conducts intelligence or counterintelligence operations

2. such operations

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Secret Service Cultural  

1. A division of the United States Department of the Treasury, responsible for apprehending counterfeiters; investigating a variety of federal crimes; and protecting presidents and their families, presidential candidates, and foreign dignitaries visiting the United States.

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Other Word Forms

• secret-service
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of secret service

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

secret service Secret Service

"Anything we released to the American public will also be known by the Russian secret service, Chinese government, and adversaries," Appel pointed out.

From BBC ● May 30, 2026

For decades, the Cuban secret service, trained during the Soviet era by the KGB, enjoyed a reputation for invincibility.

From Barron's ● Jan. 10, 2026

“As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I’m grateful to the secret service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 5, 2026

On Thursday, Evans entertained a guest with secret service stature.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2025

In fact, he was directing an organization that functioned very like a secret service, which not many years before had been part of the security and intelligence services of the Crown.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

The investigation is continuing, with assistance from the US Secret Service, and officials say more charges may be filed later.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

The FBI, Sheriff’s Department and Secret Service are continuing to probe the incident and additional charges could be added as the investigation progresses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

He praised the Secret Service officers and law enforcement personnel who responded that night, calling the attack “an assault on our democracy itself” and declaring that “we do not yield to political violence.”

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

Secret Service and with a private security firm, and has put in place more visible security measures around the venue.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

No covert military tribunal, Secret Service snoopers, or police group could have devised half as comprehensive or effective a Distant Early Warning System.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• secret police