secret

The word “secret” means something kept hidden or known only to a select few. In plain terms, something private and hidden, or an adjective describing anything kept concealed.

“Secret” is pronounced SEE-kriht (/ˈsiː.kɹɪt/ in IPA).

Here is “secret” used in a sentence: “She promised never to reveal his secret.”

Words with a similar meaning to “secret” include dern and hidden and Thesaurus:covert.

The opposite of “secret” — its antonyms — is overt.

Depending on how it is used, “secret” can be a noun and an adjective.

The word “secret” comes from Latin. From Latin "sēcrētum" ("something hidden"), the past participle of "secernere" ("to separate, set apart").

“Secret” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

A secret is something deliberately kept hidden, where someone knows the information and chooses not to share it. A mystery is something not yet understood or explained, which nobody may know. A secret involves concealment by a person; a mystery involves the absence of an answer altogether.

A surprise party you're planning, a password you don't share, a private family matter, or confidential business plans are all secrets. Each is information deliberately withheld from most people and known only to one person or a small circle of trusted individuals.

It depends entirely on the secret. Keeping a confidence protects privacy, builds trust, and can guard someone from harm. But hiding wrongdoing or important truths can be damaging or dishonest. A secret itself is neutral; its value lies in why it is kept and what it conceals.

The opposite of a secret is common knowledge, something openly known and freely shared. Words like "disclosure," "public knowledge," or simply "the truth out in the open" capture the idea. Where a secret is concealed from most people, its opposite is available to everyone.