need to know
Clearance required first
Need to know describes information shared only with those who require it for a specific purpose.
The phrase comes from military and intelligence contexts where classified material is restricted: even with proper clearance, you don't get access unless you need to know.
More broadly, it suggests deliberate limitation of information: That's on a need-to-know basis, and you don't need to know.
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- classified informationSensitive, access-restricted material
- top secretHighest classification level
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- secretConcealed information
security clearance · clearance · intel · briefing · restricted · eyes only · eyes-only · compartmentalized · redacted · disclosure · access · privileged · sensitive · covert · black ops · spy · essential · urgent
- privacyprivacy, private, seclusion, confidentiality, solitude
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- accessaccess, authorization, credentials, exclusive access, insider access
- classifiedtop secret, confidential, restricted, secret, sensitive
- confidentialconfidential, secret, private, classified, undisclosed
need to knowpublic
Available to all
open access · full disclosure · public information · transparent · open
need to knowfull transparency
full disclosure · open door policy · open book · open communication · nothing to hide
need, needs, needed, needing, needy, needful, needless, needlessly, neediness