Definition

Noun 1. The state of being kept hidden or concealed: The condition where something is not known or seen by others. 2. The practice or habit of keeping information secret: The characteristic of deliberately not revealing information.

Usage

• As a subject: Secrecy is often required in certain professions.
• As an object: The government demanded complete secrecy about the project.
• With prepositions: Discussions were held secrecy. The plan was shrouded secrecy.

Examples

• The success of the mission depended on absolute secrecy.
• They signed a contract that bound them to secrecy.
• The company operates with a high level of secrecy regarding its new product.
• The ancient society was known for its cult of secrecy.

Advanced Usage

• "Sworn to secrecy": Having made a formal promise not to reveal a secret.
  • The witnesses were sworn to secrecy by the court.
• "A veil of secrecy": Something that hides the truth or facts about a situation.
  • A veil of secrecy surrounds the committee's deliberations.
• "Cloak-and-dagger secrecy": Excessive or melodramatic secrecy, like in spy stories.
  • The negotiations were conducted with unnecessary cloak-and-dagger secrecy.

Variants and Related Words

• Secret (noun/adj): A piece of information that is not known by others, or the quality of being hidden.
  • He told me a secret.
• Secretive (adj): Inclined to conceal feelings, intentions, or information.
  • She became very secretive about her work.
• Secretiveness (noun): The quality of being secretive.
  • His secretiveness made his colleagues suspicious.

Synonyms

• Confidentiality: The state of keeping information private, often in a professional context.
• Privacy: The state of being free from public attention.
• Stealth: Cautious and secretive action or movement.

Antonyms

• Openness: Lack of restriction; accessibility.
• Transparency: The quality of being done in an open way without secrets.
• Publicity: The notice or attention given to someone or something by the media.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• In strict secrecy: With the utmost level of confidentiality.
  • The treaty was negotiated in strict secrecy.
• Secrecy is of the essence: Secrecy is the most important or vital element.
  • In this operation, secrecy is of the essence.

Noun

1. the condition of being concealed or hidden
2. the trait of keeping things secret