Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

top secret

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.83 in modern English

Syllables: top se-cret
IPA

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Information classified at one of the highest levels of sensitivity by a government, based on an assessment that it would cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if disclosed.

adj

A level of security clearance needed to access such information.

adj

Pertaining to any especially sensitive closed-room activities.

noun

A secret that is classed as "top secret"; top-secret information.

noun

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see top, secret.

Example Sentences

"NSA's report on the Liberty incident was originally classified top secret."
"'Well, here's the dope, Bill.' He handed over the black folder with the red star which stood for Top Secret."
"Steve Jobs set up a top secret team to design the Macintosh."

Inflected Forms

top-secret (alternative) top secrets (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

classified confidential restricted SCI secret sensitive TSSCI

Questions

What does top secret mean?: Information classified at one of the highest levels of sensitivity by a government, based on an assessment that it would cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if disclosed.

How to pronounce top secret

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “top secret”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “top secret”.
Repeat and practice — Say “top secret” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.