declass
Reduce someone's standing
Declass is informal shorthand for declassify—to remove official secrecy restrictions from government documents or information.
The CIA finally declassed those Cold War files.
Common in military, intelligence, and government contexts where classified materials are routine.
The formal verb remains declassify, but declass appears in casual speech and online discussion.
Maximum security clearance level
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
secrets · agents · spies · informant · whistleblower · leaks · encryption · CIA
Lifting official secrecy designations
- releaseTo let go
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- unsealingRemoving a closure
- FOIAFederal transparency statute
redaction · documents · files · archives · records · clearance · authorization · approval
Quality of being accessible
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- exposureState of being unprotected
unveiling · oversight · access · scrutiny · journalism · watchdog · investigation
top-secret
Maximum security clearance level
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
espionage · secrets · agents · spies · informant · whistleblower · leaks · encryption · CIA · NSA
declassification
Lifting official secrecy designations
- releaseTo let go
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- unsealingRemoving a closure
FOIA · redaction · documents · files · archives · records · clearance · authorization · approval · review
openness
Quality of being accessible
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
exposure · unveiling · oversight · access · scrutiny · journalism · watchdog · investigation