state secret
Spy's prized target
A state secret is information a government classifies to protect national security—military plans, intelligence methods, diplomatic communications.
The term also appears ironically for things kept unnecessarily hidden: Her age is a state secret.
To make a state secret of something is to guard it with excessive secrecy.
Covert information gatherer
- intelGathered espionage data
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- operativeCovert field agent
- agentOne who acts independently
counterintelligence · covert · infiltration · mole · double agent · handler · dead drop · tradecraft
Meant to stay secret
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
- redactedOfficially removed from view
- compartmentalizedDivided into isolated sections
- need-to-knowAccess limited by necessity
encryption · cipher · code · vault · sensitive · non-disclosure · blackout · cryptology
Escape through a breach
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- burnedDamaged by fire
cover-up · scandal · Snowden · WikiLeaks · breach · informant · tipster · anonymous source
Betraying one's nation
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- national securitySafeguarding a country's interests
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- black opsUnacknowledged covert activities
sanction · intelligence agency · classified briefing · nuclear codes · defense · military · strategic · geopolitical
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelGathered espionage data
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- operativeCovert field agent
agent · counterintelligence · covert · infiltration · mole · double agent · handler · dead drop · tradecraft · surveillance
confidential
Meant to stay secret
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
- redactedOfficially removed from view
- compartmentalizedDivided into isolated sections
need-to-know · encryption · cipher · code · vault · sensitive · non-disclosure · blackout · cryptology · declassified
leak
Escape through a breach
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
burned · cover-up · scandal · Snowden · WikiLeaks · breach · informant · tipster · anonymous source · public interest
treason
Betraying one's nation
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- national securitySafeguarding a country's interests
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
black ops · sanction · intelligence agency · classified briefing · nuclear codes · defense · military · strategic · geopolitical · threat assessment
- secrecyconfidential, classified, hidden, hiding, concealment
- secretsconfidential, classified, confidentiality, redacted, privacy
- security levelsclassified, confidential, restricted, unclassified, public
- intelligencesmart, IQ, memory, bright, clever
- official documentsbirth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, passport, driver's license
state secretpublic record
Officially accessible government information
public information · open secret · common knowledge · public knowledge · public disclosure
state secretgovernment transparency
Public access to official proceedings
open government · full disclosure · public announcement · freedom of information · government accountability
state secretgovernment transparency
Public access to official proceedings
open government · public disclosure · freedom of information · leaked document · exposé
state, secret, states, stated, stating, stately, statement, statements, statehood