divulgence

IPA/daɪˈvʌl.dʒəns/
IPA/daɪˈvʌl.dʒəns/

divulgence — noun

  • divulgencesingular
  • divulgencesplural

1. the act of letting other people know information that was meant to stay secret o

1.nounC2
Definition

the act of letting other people know information that was meant to stay secret or private

Example

The unauthorized divulgence of the merger plan shook the whole company.

divulgence of + secret plan

A court inquiry examined the divulgence of patient records to reporters.

formal use with divulgence of + records

Common collocations
  • unauthorized divulgence
  • public divulgence
  • divulgence of secrets
  • divulgence of personal data
  • divulgence of records
Synonyms
  • disclosure

    more neutral and common in business, legal, and official contexts

  • revelation

    suggests a more surprising or dramatic piece of news

  • leak

    more informal and often suggests unauthorized release to the public

Antonyms
  • secrecy

    the state of keeping information hidden

  • concealment

    the deliberate act of keeping something from being known

Grammar Patterns

divulgence of + noun

fear divulgence of + noun

Usage Note

Usually used in formal writing, especially when the information should have remained private. It most often takes an 'of' phrase naming the secret, record, or detail that became known.

Common Mistakes

The divulgence about the plan shocked investors.
The divulgence of the plan shocked investors.
after 'divulgence', English normally uses 'of' before the information revealed.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun/1, divulgence is the most formal and least common choice in this group. It focuses on private information becoming known, often in legal, institutional, or ethical discussions. Disclosure is the nearest everyday formal synonym and is common in contracts, company reports, and official statements. Revelation usually adds surprise or drama, so it fits striking new facts better than routine sharing. Leak is more informal and strongly suggests that the information escaped without permission, often to the media. Announcement is broader and does not imply secrecy at all; it simply means something is made public on purpose. Use divulgence when the important idea is the release of material that should have stayed hidden.

disclosure ↗revelation ↗leak ↗announcement ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • divulgence of secrets
  • divulgence of private information
  • unauthorized divulgence

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Built from the verb 'divulge' plus the noun ending '-ence'. 'Divulge' comes from Latin 'divulgare', meaning 'to spread among the people'. That Latin verb combines a form of 'dis-' meaning 'widely or apart' with 'vulgus', meaning 'the common people'. The modern English word keeps the same core idea: information that was private is spread out so that others know it.