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Declassify: meaning, definitions and examples

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declassify

 

[ diːˈklæsɪfaɪ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

government intelligence

To officially reveal previously classified information, typically in order to make it available to the public.

Synonyms

disclose, expose, reveal, uncover

Examples of usage

  • The government decided to declassify the documents related to the investigation.
  • The declassification of the files shed new light on the historical events.
Context #2 | Verb

military

To remove the classification of a military document or operation, making it no longer restricted.

Synonyms

unclassify, unrestrict

Examples of usage

  • The military decided to declassify the operation after many years.
  • Declassifying the information allowed for greater transparency within the organization.

Translations

Translations of the word "declassify" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desclassificar

🇮🇳 गोपनीयता हटाना

🇩🇪 freigeben

🇮🇩 mengungkap

🇺🇦 розсекретити

🇵🇱 odtajnić

🇯🇵 機密解除する

🇫🇷 déclassifier

🇪🇸 desclasificar

🇹🇷 gizliliği kaldırmak

🇰🇷 비밀 정보를 해제하다

🇸🇦 رفع السرية

🇨🇿 odtajnit

🇸🇰 odtajniť

🇨🇳 解密

🇸🇮 odtajiti

🇮🇸 aflétt

🇰🇿 құпиясын ашу

🇬🇪 გახსნა

🇦🇿 məxfilikdən çıxarmaq

🇲🇽 desclasificar

Etymology

The term 'declassify' originated in the mid-20th century, combining the prefix 'de-' (meaning 'remove') with 'classify'. It became commonly used in government and military contexts to describe the process of making previously classified information available to the public or removing restrictions on military documents or operations.

See also: classifiable, classifier, classifies, classifying, misclassify, unclassify.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,313, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.