secretive

UK: /ˈsiːkrɪtɪv/

US: /ˈsikrɪtɪv, sɪˈkri-/

US: (sē′kri tiv, si krē′-; Physiol. si krē′tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

se•cre•tive¹ /ˈsikrɪtɪv, sɪˈkri-/   adj. 

1. having or showing a desire for secrecy:
   He was pretty secretive about his new assignment.

se•cre•tive•ly, adv. 
se•cre•tive•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

se•cre•tive¹  (sē′kri tiv, si krē′-), adj. 

1. having or showing a disposition to secrecy;
   reticent:
   He seems secretive about his new job.

• 1425–75; late Middle English; back formation from secretiveness (itself modeled on French secrétivité). See secret, -ive

se′cre•tive•ly, adv. 
se′cre•tive•ness, n. 
Synonyms

secret, close.

se•cre•tive²  (si krē′tiv), adj. 

1. Physiology secretory.

• secret(ion) + -ive

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

secretive / ˈsiːkrɪtɪv/ adjective

1. inclined to secrecy; reticent

ˈsecretively adverb

ˈsecretiveness noun

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

se•cre•to•ry  (si krē′tə rē), adj., n., pl. -ries. 
adj. 

1. Physiology pertaining to secretion.
2. Physiology performing the process of secretion.

n. 

3. Anatomy a secretory organ, vessel, or the like.

• secret(ion) + -ory¹ 1685–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

secretory / sɪˈkriːtərɪ/, secretive / ˈsiːkritiv/ / siˈkriːtiv/ adjective

1. of, relating to, or producing a secretion: a secretory cell, secretory function