top-secret
/ˌtɒp ˈsiːkrət/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɑpsˈikrət] /ˌtɑːp ˈsiːkrət/ (ame, ipa)
top-secret — adjective
1. describes information, documents, or plans that are shared with only a very smal
describes information, documents, or plans that are shared with only a very small group of trusted people, because revealing them could harm a company, a country, or a project.
The general stored top-secret documents in a locked steel safe.
attributive use: top-secret + noun (documents)
Romi refused to discuss the top-secret project with anyone outside the lab.
A top-secret military report was stolen from the embassy last night.
The company kept its top-secret smartphone design hidden for nearly two years.
Bilal signed an agreement not to share any top-secret information with outsiders.
- classified
broader term that covers any level of official secrecy; less specific than top-secret.
- confidential
softer and more common in business contexts; does not carry the same sense of extreme danger.
- restricted
the lowest level of access control; implies limited distribution rather than absolute secrecy.
- public
available to everyone, with no access restrictions at all.
- unclassified
officially not secret; used in government and military contexts.
文法句型
top-secret + noun
be/remain + top-secret
用法筆記
Commonly appears before a noun (top-secret document, top-secret project), but also works after a linking verb: 'The details remain top-secret.' Unlike regular adjectives, it has no comparative or superlative form — something is either top-secret or it is not.
常見錯誤
2. used in official security systems to label information that would put a country'
used in official security systems to label information that would put a country's safety in very serious danger if it became known to people without permission.
Only five high-ranking officials have clearance to read top-secret intelligence files.
collocation: top-secret intelligence files
The leak of top-secret diplomatic cables caused a serious crisis between the two nations.
domain: government/military
Élise was transferred to a unit that handles top-secret communications for the navy.
A top-secret briefing was delivered to the cabinet about the planned operation.
The committee demanded tighter controls on all top-secret materials held by contractors.
- highly classified
emphasizes the classification level; less specific about the exact tier.
- eyes-only
informal term for documents that only specific individuals may read.
- declassified
information that was once secret but has been officially released to the public.
文法句型
top-secret + noun
用法筆記
This sense belongs to a specific government classification system. Documents marked top-secret are one level above 'secret' and two levels above 'confidential.' Subject is typically a government agency, military body, or authorized contractor.