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secret society

American

noun

an organization, as a fraternal society, the members of which take secret initiation oaths, share secret passwords and rites, and are bound to assist each other.

secret society British

noun

a society or organization that conceals its rites, activities, etc, from those who are not members

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of secret society

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

La Mutua formed in 1900 as a secret society to assist members fighting against the theft of their land and water rights.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2024

He was business manager of The Yale Daily News and a member of the exclusive Skull and Bones secret society.

From New York Times • Jun. 17, 2024

It would have been worn by members of the Ngil secret society.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2023

“It is a pleasure to stand before 1,500 of the most little known and elusive of that secret society or conspiracy we call the Federalist Society,” he said.

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2023

The men in front of me had to be part of the secret society called the Sons of Liberty that was formed to protect the rights of the colonists from British taxation.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023