top-secret

[top-see-krit]

adjective

1. bearing the classification top-secret, the highest level of classified information.

2. limited to persons authorized to use anything so classified.

top-secret

adjective

1. containing information whose disclosure would cause exceedingly grave damage to the nation and therefore classified as needing the highest level of secrecy and security

Word History and Origins

Origin of top-secret¹

First recorded in 1940–45; top ¹ + secret

Example Sentences

But it was just a ruse - according to the account delivered by the Pentagon - a decoy to distract from the top-secret flights heading straight for Iran over the Atlantic.

From BBC

They broke into vaults and extracted thousands of top-secret Iranian nuclear documents, physically transporting them to Tel Aviv.

From BBC

The documents, bearing a top-secret mark, were viewable between the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, made up of the US, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

From BBC

The Houthis, supported largely by Iran, just sat waiting in their fortified bunkers watching as “Signalgate” unfolded, exposing the use of an insecure communications app to discuss one of the top-secret F-18 attacks.

From Salon

If a communication system must be used to transmit top-secret information, it must be one of those developed by the government using highly secure encryptions developed especially for that purpose.

From Salon