secret society

American  

noun

1. 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

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

---

Etymology

Origin of secret society

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

“In some sense, it feels better to believe that there’s a secret society controlling everything than believing that entropy and chaos rule.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 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

The movie, written and directed by Kobi Libii, is a satire about a secret society of Black people dedicated to making white lives easier.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 17, 2024

“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

What better way to defang a secret society than to make public its most secret information?

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt