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English Words Starting With S

15,552 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

secret
adjectivenounB1
/ˈsiːkrət/Something kept hidden or known only to a limited group of people.
secret admirer
nounC1
/ˌsiːkrət əˈdmaɪərə(r)/A person who feels romantic attraction toward someone but keeps their feelings hidden from that person.
secret agent
nounB2
/ˌsiːkrət ˈeɪdʒənt/A person employed by a government or organization to collect secret information or to perform undercover operations, typically involving espionage.
secret ballot
nounB2-C1
/ˌsiːkrət ˈbælət/A voting method where a voter's choices are confidential, intended to prevent coercion or influence.
secret history
nounC1/C2
/ˈsiːkrɪt ˈhɪst(ə)ri/A historical account or interpretation that claims to reveal hidden, suppressed, or unofficial facts about past events, often contradicting the accepted or public narrative.
secret partner
nounB2/C1
/ˈsiːkrət ˈpɑːtnə(r)/A partner in a business, agreement, or relationship whose identity or involvement is deliberately kept hidden from others.
secret police
nounC1
/ˌsiːkrət pəˈliːs/A police force operating in secrecy and often beyond the law, typically employed by authoritarian regimes to maintain political control, suppress dissent, and conduct surveillance.
secret santa
nounIntermediate (B1-B2)
/ˌsiːkrət ˈsæntə/A gift-giving game traditionally held around Christmas, where participants are anonymously assigned a person to give a gift to, and receive a gift from another anonymous participant.
secret sauce
nounC1
/ˌsiːkrət ˈsɔːs/A proprietary ingredient or special method that gives a product, service, or person a distinctive and superior advantage.
secret service
nounB2
/ˌsiːkrət ˈsɜːvɪs/A government agency or department responsible for protecting important state officials, investigating specific crimes (often counterfeiting), and conducting intelligence operations.
secret society
nounB2
/ˌsiːkrət səˈsaɪəti/An organized group whose members are bound by pledges of secrecy about its existence, membership, and/or activities.
secretagog
nounVery rare / Technical
/sɪˈkriːtəɡɒɡ/A substance that causes another substance to be secreted.
secretagogue
nounVery Low / Technical
/ˌsiːˈkriːtəɡɒɡ/A substance that stimulates secretion.
secretaire
nounLow
/ˌsɛk.rɪˈteə/A writing desk with drawers and a hinged front that folds down to form a writing surface.
secretariat
nounC1
/ˌsɛkrɪˈtɛːrɪət/The administrative office or department of a large organization, especially a governmental or international body.
secretary
nounB2
/ˈsɛkrətri/A person whose job is to handle administrative and clerical tasks, typically for an organization or individual.
secretary bird
nounC2
/ˌsek.rə.tər.i ˈbɜːd/A large, terrestrial bird of prey native to Africa, with long legs and a crest of black feathers resembling quill pens behind its ears.
secretary of state
nounB2
/ˌsek.rə.tər.i əv ˈsteɪt/A senior government official with major responsibilities in foreign affairs and international relations.
secretary-general
nounB2
/ˌsek.rə.tər.i ˈdʒen.ər.əl/The chief administrative officer of a large organization, typically an international body.
secrete
verbverb-transitiveC1/C2
/sɪˈkriːt/To produce and discharge a substance, typically from a gland or cell (verb); hidden, concealed (adjective).

Showing 3161–3180 of 15552 words.