secret society: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “secret society” mean?
An organized group whose members are bound by pledges of secrecy about its existence, membership, and/or activities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An organized group whose members are bound by pledges of secrecy about its existence, membership, and/or activities.
A formally organized group that maintains secrecy regarding its membership, rituals, knowledge, and aims, often for mutual benefit, exclusivity, or the preservation of esoteric traditions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Usage patterns are similar; historical references differ (e.g., Freemasons in UK vs. Skull and Bones in US).
Connotations
In both varieties, connotation is heavily context-dependent, ranging from neutral/historical (Freemasons) to pejorative (conspiratorial cabals).
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English due to longer history of well-documented societies like the Freemasons and Hellfire Club.
Grammar
How to Use “secret society” in a Sentence
[Noun] is/was rumoured to be a secret society.The [secret society] of [name] held its meetings in [location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “secret society” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The group was secretly societied for decades.
American English
- The group was secretly societied for decades.
adverb
British English
- The members met secret-society-style in the old library.
American English
- They operated secret-society-like, with coded handshakes.
adjective
British English
- He had a secret-society membership that influenced his career.
American English
- She was involved in secret-society activities on campus.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal: used to describe an exclusive, opaque network within a company ('The board is like a secret society.').
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or political science contexts to discuss groups like the Freemasons, Illuminati, or Skull and Bones.
Everyday
Rare. Used to describe any group perceived as excessively private or cliquish.
Technical
Specific term in sociology for groups maintaining strict secrecy to preserve knowledge or power.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “secret society”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “secret society”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “secret society”
- Using plural 'secret societies' when referring to a single entity (correct: He joined a secret society).
- Misspelling as 'secert society'.
- Confusing with 'secret service' or 'secret agent'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Many are legal social or fraternal organisations that simply keep their rituals and membership private.
A secret society emphasises concealment of its very existence or core activities, while a private club is simply selective but not necessarily secretive.
Not strictly. While many have private rituals, the term 'secret society' is usually reserved for the most exclusive and historically clandestine groups like Skull and Bones at Yale.
Yes, in contexts valuing tradition, loyalty, and the preservation of esoteric knowledge, it can be neutral or positive. In contexts of conspiracy or corruption, it is negative.
An organized group whose members are bound by pledges of secrecy about its existence, membership, and/or activities.
Secret society is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Secret society: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsiːkrət səˈsaɪəti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsiːkrət səˈsaɪəti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A society within a society.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SECRET kept by a SOCIETY of people. It's a club where what happens inside stays a secret.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A HIDDEN OBJECT (to be guarded/protected by the society).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is a common collocation with 'secret society'?