security clearance
Secret information permission
Security clearance is official authorization to access classified information, granted after background investigation by a government agency.
Clearance levels—confidential, secret, top secret—determine what information the holder may view.
She couldn't discuss the project because her security clearance wasn't high enough.
Getting or maintaining clearance requires periodic reinvestigation and can be revoked.
Highest classification level
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- secretConcealed information
- compartmentalizedDivided into isolated sections
need-to-know · sensitive · restricted · cryptographic · codeword · eyes only · unclassified · declassified
Formal permission granted
- credentialsEvidence of qualification or identity
- badgeWorn symbol of membership
- accessRight to enter
- need-to-knowAccess limited by necessity
briefing · debriefing · indoctrination · read-in · read-out · escort · restricted area · compartment
Investigation of someone's history
- vettingEvaluating suitability through investigation
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- polygraphPhysiological response recorder
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
reinvestigation · fingerprinting · interview · credit check · drug test · suitability · sponsorship · denial
Quality of being reliable
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- characterNature, symbol, or role
integrity · honesty · financial responsibility · adjudicator · investigator · sponsor · subject
top secret
Highest classification level
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- secretConcealed information
compartmentalized · need-to-know · sensitive · restricted · cryptographic · codeword · eyes only · unclassified · declassified
authorization
Formal permission granted
- credentialsEvidence of qualification or identity
- badgeWorn symbol of membership
- accessRight to enter
need-to-know · briefing · debriefing · indoctrination · read-in · read-out · escort · restricted area · compartment · disclosure
background check
Investigation of someone's history
- vettingEvaluating suitability through investigation
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- polygraphPhysiological response recorder
adjudication · reinvestigation · fingerprinting · interview · credit check · drug test · suitability · sponsorship · denial · appeal
trustworthiness
Quality of being reliable
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
character · integrity · honesty · financial responsibility · adjudicator · investigator · sponsor · subject
- Military Securitymilitary police, MPs, classified, top secret, restricted area
- NSANSA, signals intelligence, SIGINT, cryptanalysis, codebreaking
- military testsASVAB, military aptitude, entrance exams, aptitude tests, qualification tests
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- securityalarm system, lock, safe, alarm, camera
security clearancedisqualification
Removal from eligibility
blacklisted · persona non grata · debarment · exclusion · lockout
security clearancepublic record
Officially accessible government information
common knowledge · open access · public domain · freedom of information · transparency
clear, secure, unclear, security, cleared, clarify, insecure, clearing, secured