secret police

noun

Definition of SECRET POLICE

: a police organization operating for the most part in secrecy and especially for the political purposes of its government often with terroristic methods

See secret police defined for English-language learners

See secret police defined for kids

First Known Use of SECRET POLICE

1823

Rhymes with SECRET POLICE

Aragonese, archdiocese, Barcelonese, bureaucratese, companion piece, computerese, crème de cassis, Dodecanese, Indo-Chinese, museum piece, officialese, Peloponnese, Pentagonese, period piece, sustained-release, telegraphese, Vietnamese

Learn More About SECRET POLICE

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "secret police"

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: secret processPrevious Word in the Dictionary: secret partnerAll Words Near: secret police

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up secret police? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site

Test Your Vocabulary!

10 Charming Words for Nasty People

Put-downs with flair

Learn More

When "Literally" isn't, well, literal

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Watch Now

Know what this is?

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Go Play

Fear of cats?

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears

Learn More