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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

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

The Ospreys carry support staff, special forces and secret service agents, who are tasked with dealing with any mid-flight emergency.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 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

Some were asked to hand them over to Secret Service.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

Jonathan Greenberger, Politico’s global editor in chief, said in an email to staff Saturday that members of the Secret Service confiscated the pass of Cheyenne Haslett, a White House reporter for the outlet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

Attorney’s Office, and the Secret Service, and say ‘No, I’m doing what I want,’” Griffin offered, then so can everyone else.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

Later on Saturday morning, Politico said its reporter Cheyenne Haslett was denied entry and Secret Service revoked her pass.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

I met another service member who’d had a leg amputated and asked me a lot of questions about the Secret Service.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• secret police