Secrecy
noun
The state of information being kept hidden or secret.
The project was developed in complete secrecy.
Often appears as...
- sworn to secrecy
- maintain secrecy
noun
The practice of being quiet or not talking about something.
She maintained a secrecy about her personal life.
Often appears as...
- veil of secrecy
- wall of secrecy
noun
How one keeps confidential or secret information.
The court noted the need for secrecy in the conduct of negotiations.
Often appears as...
- state secrecy
- trade secrecy
Usage tips
Formal
noun
The state of information being kept hidden or secret.
The project was developed in complete secrecy.
Often appears as...
- sworn to secrecy
- maintain secrecy
noun
The practice of being quiet or not talking about something.
She maintained a secrecy about her personal life.
Often appears as...
- veil of secrecy
- wall of secrecy
noun
How one keeps confidential or secret information.
The court noted the need for secrecy in the conduct of negotiations.
Often appears as...
- state secrecy
- trade secrecy
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Processes
Secrecy implies actions or decisions are hidden from public view, often for privacy or security.
The company’s recipe is protected by strict secrecy.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Suspicious
While 'secrecy' can suggest something mysterious or illicit, it's not always negative.
The jury deliberates in secrecy to prevent outside influence.
Pro Tip 3/3Matters of State
In politics, secrecy may relate to sensitive issues of national security or diplomacy.
The agent's identity is a matter of national secrecy.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Processes
Secrecy implies actions or decisions are hidden from public view, often for privacy or security.
The company’s recipe is protected by strict secrecy.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Suspicious
While 'secrecy' can suggest something mysterious or illicit, it's not always negative.
The jury deliberates in secrecy to prevent outside influence.
Pro Tip 3/3Matters of State
In politics, secrecy may relate to sensitive issues of national security or diplomacy.
The agent's identity is a matter of national secrecy.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Processes
Secrecy implies actions or decisions are hidden from public view, often for privacy or security.
The company’s recipe is protected by strict secrecy.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Suspicious
While 'secrecy' can suggest something mysterious or illicit, it's not always negative.
The jury deliberates in secrecy to prevent outside influence.
Pro Tip 3/3Matters of State
In politics, secrecy may relate to sensitive issues of national security or diplomacy.
The agent's identity is a matter of national secrecy.
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Video examples
How exposing anonymous...
they'd rather not have the public know about. And these people go to great lengths to hide any links between their names and the companies they own. The life of an anonymous company usually begins in what's known as a secrecy jurisdiction, a place whose laws allow new companies to be registered
Video examples
Thomas Piketty: New...
So I am not terribly impressed by those who know in advance what will or will not happen. I think one century ago, many people would have said that progressive income taxation would never happen and then it happened. And even five years ago, many people would have said that bank secrecy
Video examples
Why you should know how...
But why would a company even want to discourage salary discussions? Why do some people go along with it, while others revolt against it? It turns out that in addition to the assumed reasons, pay secrecy is actually a way to save a lot of money. You see, keeping salaries secret
Video examples
Heather Brooke: My...
across all different countries, and particularly centered around the heart of power, around public officials who were embezzling the public's money for their own personal enrichment, and allowed to do that because of official secrecy.
Video examples
The Panama Papers...
talking about how individuals can use offshore secrecy to hide and disguise their assets -- something we have been talking about and exposing for a decade. Now, I think a lot of people find this entire world baffling and confusing,
Video examples
Exposing abuse of...
ever seen they used to tear down the forests kick people off their land and rip off millions of us around the world now just to be clear I'm not fancy business far from it but I am against the practice of secrecy that allows
Video examples
A call to men PIPE Tony...
and we weren't doing drugs. Now my box, my card, my man box card, was immediately in jeopardy. Two One, I never had sex. We don't talk about that as men. You only tell your dearest, closest friend, sworn to secrecy for life,
Video examples
What you need to know...
That's because you care about your privacy, like every human being. So, our world has changed fast. And today, there is understandably a lot of confusion about what privacy is and why it matters. Privacy is not secrecy.
Video examples
Depression, the secret...
And I said that I thought communication within the marriage might be triggering some of their problems. But I was also struck by the burdensome nature of such mutual secrecy. Depression is so exhausting.
Video examples
Hear the Untold Story of...
he was a code talker during the war I asked him why he hadn't told me earlier he said I was sworn to secrecy and that's why he never said a word
Video examples
How exposing anonymous...
they'd rather not have the public know about. And these people go to great lengths to hide any links between their names and the companies they own. The life of an anonymous company usually begins in what's known as a secrecy jurisdiction, a place whose laws allow new companies to be registered
Video examples
Thomas Piketty: New...
So I am not terribly impressed by those who know in advance what will or will not happen. I think one century ago, many people would have said that progressive income taxation would never happen and then it happened. And even five years ago, many people would have said that bank secrecy
Video examples
Why you should know how...
But why would a company even want to discourage salary discussions? Why do some people go along with it, while others revolt against it? It turns out that in addition to the assumed reasons, pay secrecy is actually a way to save a lot of money. You see, keeping salaries secret
Video examples
Heather Brooke: My...
across all different countries, and particularly centered around the heart of power, around public officials who were embezzling the public's money for their own personal enrichment, and allowed to do that because of official secrecy.
Video examples
The Panama Papers...
talking about how individuals can use offshore secrecy to hide and disguise their assets -- something we have been talking about and exposing for a decade. Now, I think a lot of people find this entire world baffling and confusing,
Video examples
Exposing abuse of...
ever seen they used to tear down the forests kick people off their land and rip off millions of us around the world now just to be clear I'm not fancy business far from it but I am against the practice of secrecy that allows
Video examples
A call to men PIPE Tony...
and we weren't doing drugs. Now my box, my card, my man box card, was immediately in jeopardy. Two One, I never had sex. We don't talk about that as men. You only tell your dearest, closest friend, sworn to secrecy for life,
Video examples
What you need to know...
That's because you care about your privacy, like every human being. So, our world has changed fast. And today, there is understandably a lot of confusion about what privacy is and why it matters. Privacy is not secrecy.
Video examples
Depression, the secret...
And I said that I thought communication within the marriage might be triggering some of their problems. But I was also struck by the burdensome nature of such mutual secrecy. Depression is so exhausting.
Video examples
Hear the Untold Story of...
he was a code talker during the war I asked him why he hadn't told me earlier he said I was sworn to secrecy and that's why he never said a word
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jamie Johnson
American Director
The secrecy surrounding wealth and the anxiety of talking about money is absurd. If you are rich and you live well and you spend money and it is an essential part of your lifestyle, then you shouldn't be ashamed of talking about it. You shouldn't be ashamed of it. And I think you should accept it and be honest and open about it.
Quote examples
Abraham Verghese
Ethiopian Author
As a young physician in the mid-'80s, caring for people who had contracted H.I.V., I lost two of my patients to suicide at a time when the virus was doing very little harm to them. I have always thought of them as having been killed by a metaphor, by the burden of secrecy and shame associated with the disease.
Quote examples
Nathan Myhrvold
American Businessman
I've been on a team that won the world championship of barbecue. But barbecue's interesting, because it's one of these cult foods like chili, or bouillabaisse. Various parts of the world will have a cult food that people get enormously attached to - there's tremendous traditions; there's secrecy.
Quote examples
Jan Schakowsky
American Politician
While trade agreements are negotiated in secrecy, behind-closed doors, we have learned enough from leaks to know that the result of passing TPA to 'fast track' these trade agreements would affect everything from food safety to environmental protection to consumer financial protections.
Quote examples
Ron Paul
American Politician
I am absolutely opposed to a national ID card. This is a total contradiction of what a free society is all about. The purpose of government is to protect the secrecy and the privacy of all individuals, not the secrecy of government. We don't need a national ID card.
Quote examples
Trevor Paglen
American Artist
If secrecy is made out of the same stuff that the rest of the world is made out of, then it's fundamentally visible, which means that secrecy can only fail in the first instance, in the sense that you cannot make something disappear.
Quote examples
Umberto Eco
Italian Novelist
I love the secrecy of writing fiction. When I write a novel, I don't tell anybody what I'm doing. I'm living in my private world. And it's a great sensation.
Quote examples
Simon Sebag Montefiore
British Historian
I see the world as an adventure thriller and a voyage of discovery. To me, all lives are lives of mystery and secrecy, and that's what I write about.
Quote examples
Trace Lysette
American Actress
It's important to be transparent, to remove secrecy from issues of equality.
Quote examples
Ian Hacking
Canadian Philosopher
Secrecy is one of the shadier sides of private and public life.
Quote examples
Jamie Johnson
American Director
The secrecy surrounding wealth and the anxiety of talking about money is absurd. If you are rich and you live well and you spend money and it is an essential part of your lifestyle, then you shouldn't be ashamed of talking about it. You shouldn't be ashamed of it. And I think you should accept it and be honest and open about it.
Quote examples
Abraham Verghese
Ethiopian Author
As a young physician in the mid-'80s, caring for people who had contracted H.I.V., I lost two of my patients to suicide at a time when the virus was doing very little harm to them. I have always thought of them as having been killed by a metaphor, by the burden of secrecy and shame associated with the disease.
Quote examples
Nathan Myhrvold
American Businessman
I've been on a team that won the world championship of barbecue. But barbecue's interesting, because it's one of these cult foods like chili, or bouillabaisse. Various parts of the world will have a cult food that people get enormously attached to - there's tremendous traditions; there's secrecy.
Quote examples
Jan Schakowsky
American Politician
While trade agreements are negotiated in secrecy, behind-closed doors, we have learned enough from leaks to know that the result of passing TPA to 'fast track' these trade agreements would affect everything from food safety to environmental protection to consumer financial protections.
Quote examples
Ron Paul
American Politician
I am absolutely opposed to a national ID card. This is a total contradiction of what a free society is all about. The purpose of government is to protect the secrecy and the privacy of all individuals, not the secrecy of government. We don't need a national ID card.
Quote examples
Trevor Paglen
American Artist
If secrecy is made out of the same stuff that the rest of the world is made out of, then it's fundamentally visible, which means that secrecy can only fail in the first instance, in the sense that you cannot make something disappear.
Quote examples
Umberto Eco
Italian Novelist
I love the secrecy of writing fiction. When I write a novel, I don't tell anybody what I'm doing. I'm living in my private world. And it's a great sensation.
Quote examples
Simon Sebag Montefiore
British Historian
I see the world as an adventure thriller and a voyage of discovery. To me, all lives are lives of mystery and secrecy, and that's what I write about.
Quote examples
Trace Lysette
American Actress
It's important to be transparent, to remove secrecy from issues of equality.
Quote examples
Ian Hacking
Canadian Philosopher
Secrecy is one of the shadier sides of private and public life.
Example 1 of 10
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