secrecy

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "secrecy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the practice of keeping something, such as information, a plan, or an activity, secret, especially in order to prevent it from being known by other people. For example, "The company was very strict about protecting the secrecy of their new product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has taken the high court to blow the lid on this government's secrecy.

The Guardian

The G8 meeting I chaired in Northern Ireland also forged a ground-breaking initiative to stop the true owners of companies hiding behind a veil of secrecy, tackling the cancer of corruption that does so much to destroy countries and increase the risk to our own security.

The Guardian - Opinion

Noel Kututwa, Amnesty's deputy director for Africa, said: "It appears the Zanu-PF supporters wanted to ensure that these women did not vote for the other parties and tried to compromise the secrecy of the ballot.

The Guardian

Under his long stewardship, Luxembourg became Europe's wealthiest country, one of the richest in the world in per capita terms, as well as a bastion of banking secrecy and a tax haven for multinationals keen to exploit the EU's single market while minimising their contributions to the European exchequer.

The Guardian

"It is Tony Abbott's Tampa and together with the secrecy, you've got to wonder whether it's Scott Morrison's children overboard," Hanson-Young said on Wednesday.

The Guardian

After Senator Warren attacked the trade deal for being negotiated in secrecy and for largely helping multinational corporations, Obama slammed Warren in an interview with Yahoo.

The Guardian

And on the right, Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina and others have attacked Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP's) "secrecy" and the lack of transparency in a deal involving 12 nations accounting for 40% of the world economy.

The Guardian

But the system for dealing with these crimes was the same everywhere: swear the victims to secrecy; send the abuser to be "cleansed" in a clinic; shift him to another parish (or in extreme cases like Smyth's to another country); and, above all, do not tell the police.

The Guardian

Illegal interception of the content of a message breaks your secrecy.

The Guardian - Tech

Autonomy is vitiated by the wholesale invasion of secrecy and privacy.

The Guardian - Tech

If the government was confident its process was fair and legal, it would not rely on such secrecy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "secrecy" when you want to emphasize the act or condition of something being kept secret. It's particularly useful in contexts where the hidden nature of information is central to the discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "secrecy" interchangeably with "privacy" without considering the context. "Secrecy" often implies intentional concealment, while "privacy" refers to the right to keep personal matters private. For example, calling a company's data protection policy "secrecy policy" might give the wrong impression.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "secrecy" is as a noun. It represents the state or condition of being secret, hidden, or concealed. As Ludwig AI shows, it often refers to the practice of keeping information, plans, or activities hidden.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "secrecy" functions as a noun denoting the state of being hidden or concealed, often with implications of intentional concealment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently used, particularly in news and media contexts. While not always negative, it often suggests a lack of transparency that warrants scrutiny. Related terms include "confidentiality" and "concealment", each carrying distinct nuances. When using "secrecy", consider its connotations and ensure it accurately reflects the intended meaning within the specific context to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confidentiality

Focuses on the protected nature of information, emphasizing trust and discretion.

secretiveness

Highlights the habit or tendency to keep things secret.

concealment

Emphasizes the act of hiding or preventing something from being known.

lack of transparency

Directly points out the absence of openness and clarity.

covertness

Suggests a hidden or disguised manner of operation.

privacy

Focuses on the right to keep personal matters hidden.

furtiveness

Implies an attempt to avoid notice or attention, often due to guilt or wrongdoing.

underhandedness

Suggests dishonesty and deceit in keeping things secret.

clandestineness

Emphasizes that something is done secretly, often because it's illicit.

state of being hidden

Descriptive phrase emphasizing the condition of something not being visible or known.

FAQs

How is "secrecy" often used in news and media?

In news and media, "secrecy" often highlights controversial or unethical concealment of information by governments, corporations, or individuals. It implies a deliberate attempt to hide facts from the public, which can lead to scrutiny and criticism.

What are some synonyms for "secrecy" that can be used in writing?

Depending on the nuance you want to convey, alternatives to "secrecy" include "confidentiality", "concealment", or "lack of transparency". Each of these carries slightly different connotations related to the act of keeping things hidden.

Is "secrecy" always a negative term?

While "secrecy" often carries a negative connotation due to its association with hidden agendas and lack of transparency, it is not always inherently negative. In some contexts, such as national security or protecting intellectual property, a degree of "secrecy" is necessary and justifiable.

How does "secrecy" differ from "privacy"?

"Secrecy" implies the intentional concealment of information, often involving something that should potentially be known. "Privacy", on the other hand, refers to the right to keep personal information and affairs confidential. Therefore, "privacy" is often considered a right, whereas "secrecy" is a choice or a condition.