done, made, or conducted without the knowledge of others

secret negotiations.

kept from the knowledge of any but the initiated or privileged

a secret password.

faithful or cautious in keeping confidential matters confidential; close-mouthed; reticent.

designed or working to escape notice, knowledge, or observation

a secret drawer; the secret police.

secluded, sheltered, or withdrawn

a secret hiding place.

beyond ordinary human understanding; esoteric.

(of information, a document, etc.)

bearing the classification secret.

limited to persons authorized to use information documents, etc., so classified.

something that is or is kept secret, hidden, or concealed.

a mystery

the secrets of nature.

a reason or explanation not immediately or generally apparent.

a method, formula, plan, etc., known only to the initiated or the few

the secret of happiness; a trade secret.

a classification assigned to information, a document, etc., considered less vital to security than top-secret but more vital than confidential, and limiting its use to persons who have been cleared, as by various government agencies, as trustworthy to handle such material. Compare classification ( def. 5 ) .

( initial capital letter ) Liturgy . a variable prayer in the Roman and other Latin liturgies, said inaudibly by the celebrant after the offertory and immediately before the preface. ?

in secret

unknown to others; in private; secretly

A resistance movement was already being organized in secret.

adjective

clear , defined , explicit , forthright , honest , open , public , revealed , unconcealed , aboveboard , known , legal , legitimate

noun

known , public knowledge , revelation

adjective

abstruse , ambiguous , arcane , backdoor , camouflaged , classified , cloak-and-dagger , close , closet , clouded , conspiratorial , covered , covert , cryptic , dark , deep , disguised , enigmatical , esoteric , furtive , hush-hush * , mysterious , mystic , mystical , obscure , occult , on the qt , out-of-the-way * , private , recondite , reticent , retired , secluded , shrouded , strange , undercover , underground , under wraps * , undisclosed , unenlightened , unfrequented , unintelligible , unknown , unpublished , unseen , veiled , backstairs , confidential , discreet , dissembled , dissimulated , in ambush , incognito , inside , restricted , secretive , sly , sneak , sneaky , stealthy , sub-rosa , surreptitious , top secret , unacknowledged , under false pretense , underhanded , under-the-table , hidden , screened , clandestine , huggermugger , sub rosa , auricular , apocryphal , arcanum , cabalistic , collusive , concealed , confidentially , cryptogenic , enigmatic , hush-hush , in camera , intimate , mystery , pl. confidences , pl.genitals , pl. penetralia , privy , secretly , top-drawer

noun

cipher , classified information , code , confidence , confidential information , enigma , formula , key , magic number , mystery , occult , oracle , password , privileged information , puzzle , skeleton in cupboard , unknown , route , apocrypha , arcana , arcane , arcanum , arcanum arcanorum , cabal , cabalism , cache , camouflaged , clandestine , clandestinity , classified , closet , clouded , collusion , concealed , concealment , confidential , confidentiality , connivance , conspiracy , covert , cryptic , dark , discreet , disguised , esoteric , esoterica , furtive , hidden , hide , intelligence , intrigue , junto , machination , mysterious , mystical , obscure , private , privity , privy , remote , retired , secluded , seclusion , secrecy , shrouded , sneaky , stash , stealthy , surreptitious , undercover , underhand , veiled