the branch of governmental service that conducts secret investigations, especially investigations into the military strength of other nations.
(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.
secret work for a government, especially espionage.
a government agency or department that conducts intelligence or counterintelligence operations
such operations
First recorded in 1730–40
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
“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 "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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
But it will also include a tribute to a Secret Service agent who helped stop the alleged gunman in April despite being struck in his protective vest, and to the staff of the Hilton.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
The Secret Service intervened on the return trip because the Qatari plane lacked basic defensive countermeasures needed to protect the president amid escalating hostilities with Iran.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026
Some are friendly, others act as if they were members of the Secret Service guarding the White House.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
