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

Secret Service agents, who secured a search warrant, reviewed Aguayo’s phone and a shared laptop and found four Instagram accounts.

From Los Angeles Times

“You must tell me everything that’s happening. My imagination has gone wild, and I need to know the truth about all this secret service you’re up to. What will happen when we reach Baltimore?”

From Literature

Mr. Pinkerton stood there on the depot steps like a stone statue, and as we watched Mr. Lincoln climb into the dark carriage, I felt certain that Mr. Pinkerton wasn’t ready to give up his secret service to the president.

From Literature

Franco, the Democratic strategist, recalled similarly fond memories about his interactions with Reagan despite their political differences, such as when he spoke about the Secret Service being alarmed that the elder Reagan was driving an old pick-up truck to ferry VIP guests around his ranch or riding horses with them.

From Los Angeles Times

The Secret Service redirected a family down a different path to the tennis courts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• secret police