d-notice
C2Formal, journalistic, political/administrative
Definition
Meaning
An official, voluntary request by a government to media editors to withhold publication of information for reasons of national security.
Any formal or informal request to suppress information, often relating to government or military matters. The term originates from the UK's Defence Notice system but can be used metaphorically.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Not a law but a voluntary advisory system in the UK. The 'D' stands for 'Defence'. It implies authority and a request for compliance, not a direct order. Often used in discussions of press freedom, censorship, and national security.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is specifically British, referring to the UK's Defence Advisory Notice system. The closest American equivalent is a 'security classification' or 'embargo', but there is no direct institutional equivalent. Americans might use the term to describe British contexts or metaphorically.
Connotations
In the UK: associated with the D-Notice Committee, history of defence secrecy, and the Official Secrets Act. In the US: understood as a Britishism, often connoting UK-style government secrecy or used as a metaphor for suppression.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general use. Almost exclusively used in British political/journalistic contexts. Extremely rare in American English outside of specific discussions of UK affairs or historical comparisons.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [authority] issued a d-notice on [subject].The story was placed under a d-notice.They complied with the d-notice.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To slap a d-notice on something (informal)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in high-stakes corporate contexts regarding sensitive information leaks.
Academic
Used in political science, media studies, history, and law when discussing state secrecy, censorship, and UK institutions.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be unfamiliar to most general speakers.
Technical
Specific term in UK defence, security, and journalism sectors referring to the official DA-Notice system.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The ministry moved to d-notice the sensitive report.
American English
- (Not used as a verb in AmE)
adjective
British English
- The d-notice system has been in place for decades.
American English
- They discussed the d-notice protocol in relation to the UK case.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The newspaper received a d-notice and agreed not to publish the details.
- During the crisis, the government issued a d-notice on all troop movements.
- The editor argued that the d-notice was being used to cover up political embarrassment rather than a genuine security threat.
- Compliance with the voluntary d-notice system has historically been high, though not universal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'D' for 'Defence' and 'Don't tell' – a Defence Notice asking 'Don't' publish this.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A DANGEROUS OBJECT (to be contained); THE STATE IS A GUARDIAN (controlling information flow).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not equivalent to "цензура" (censorship), which is mandatory. A d-notice is a request. Не является прямым приказом. Closer to "секретный гриф" for classified documents, but applied to the media.
Common Mistakes
- Calling it a 'law' or 'legal order' (it's voluntary).
- Writing it as 'D-Notice' (standard is 'd-notice').
- Using it to describe any corporate secrecy.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'd-notice' primarily associated with?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a voluntary request from the UK's Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee. However, ignoring it could lead to prosecution under other laws like the Official Secrets Act.
It stands for 'Defence'. The full official name is a Defence Advisory Notice (DA-Notice).
The UK system is unique. Other countries have different mechanisms for protecting state secrets, such as formal classification systems or prior restraint laws, but not an identical voluntary advisory system for editors.
Yes, editors can query the D-Notice Committee to discuss the necessity of the notice. The system relies on dialogue and mutual agreement on what constitutes a genuine national security risk.