What does secrecy mean?
Secrecy is the condition or practice of keeping information hidden from other people. It is used for situations in which facts, plans, identities, or activities are deliberately withheld, whether for reasons of privacy, legal confidentiality, commercial advantage, or security. In formal contexts, the word can be neutral or even approving: official secrecy may protect sensitive information. In other contexts, it often carries a negative implication, suggesting concealment, manipulation, or a culture in which important decisions are made without public scrutiny. Secrecy is typically treated as an uncountable noun, although the plural secrecies can be used when referring to distinct instances or forms of concealment. The related adjective secret and verb secrete express related but distinct ideas: a secret is something kept hidden, while to secrete means to hide or release something gradually and discreetly. The word is useful because it captures not only the fact that information is hidden but also the social implications of withholding it.
nounThe quality or state of being secret, especially the deliberate concealment of information, facts, or activities from others.
- The state or practice of keeping information, facts, or activities hidden from others.
"The negotiations were conducted in complete secrecy, with no details released to the public."
"There was a noticeable air of secrecy around the committee's deliberations."
"The company agreed to maintain the secrecy of the research while the patent was being sought."
The plural is uncommon and usually refers to different instances or forms of secrecy.
"The study examines several forms of secrecy, from personal privacy to institutional concealment."
In a public culture, secrecy often gains power by making its contents scarce.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does secrecy come from?
English secrecy was formed from secret with the suffix -cy, a development that expresses the state or quality of being secret. The word secret comes through Old French from Latin secretus, meaning “separated” or “apart,” ultimately from secare, “to separate” or “cut off.” Related English words such as secrete, secretion, and secretive preserve this same Latin root.
How secrecy is actually used
The word is generally neutral when referring to legal, medical, or organizational confidentiality, but it can suggest deliberate concealment, evasiveness, or distrust when applied to public institutions or personal conduct.
Easily confused with secrecy
Secrecy means keeping information hidden, whereas security means protecting people, information, or systems from harm or unauthorized access.