top-secret

top-secret — 形容詞

1. describes information, documents, or plans that are shared with only a very smal

1.形容詞B2
釋義

最高機密

僅限少數人知道的機密資訊

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.

例句

The general stored top-secret documents in a locked steel safe.

將軍把最高機密文件鎖在鋼製保險箱裡。

attributive use: top-secret + noun (documents)

Romi refused to discuss the top-secret project with anyone outside the lab.

Romi 拒絕與實驗室以外的任何人討論這項最高機密計畫。

同義詞
  • 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.

反義詞
  • 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

The details are very top-secret.
The details are top-secret.
💡'top-secret' is not gradable, so 'very' should not be used with it.
This is a top secret document.
This is a top-secret document.
💡When used as a compound adjective before a noun, a hyphen is needed.

2. used in official security systems to label information that would put a country'

2.形容詞C1
釋義

國家機密

洩漏會危害國家安全的

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.

例句

Only five high-ranking officials have clearance to read top-secret intelligence files.

只有五位高階官員有權限閱讀國家機密的情報檔案。

collocation: top-secret intelligence files

The leak of top-secret diplomatic cables caused a serious crisis between the two nations.

國家機密外交電報的洩漏在兩國之間引發了嚴重危機。

domain: government/military

同義詞
  • highly classified

    emphasizes the classification level; less specific about the exact tier.

  • eyes-only

    informal term for documents that only specific individuals may read.

反義詞
  • 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.

常見錯誤

The recipe is top-secret for our restaurant.
The recipe is a closely guarded secret for our restaurant.
💡The national-security sense should not be used for everyday business secrets.