1.
secretiveness; secretive nature; tendency to keep things private
A personal trait or habitual attitude of keeping information, feelings, or plans hidden from others.
彼は秘密主義だ。
He is secretive.
秘密主義の友人は何を考えているかわからない。
You never know what a secretive friend is thinking.
恋愛に関しては徹底した秘密主義を貫いている。
When it comes to romance, she maintains a thoroughly secretive stance.
2.
policy of secrecy; principle of confidentiality
An organizational or institutional approach that prioritizes withholding information from the public or outsiders.
その企業は秘密主義で有名だ。
That company is famous for its secrecy.
政府の秘密主義が批判されている。
The government's policy of secrecy is being criticized.
情報公開が進む中、秘密主義を続ける組織は信頼を失いかねない。
As information disclosure advances, organizations that maintain a policy of secrecy risk losing trust.
Composed of 秘密 (secret) + 主義 (-ism; principle). When describing a person, it characterizes someone who habitually keeps things to themselves and doesn't share personal information easily. When describing an organization, it refers to a deliberate policy of restricting information.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 秘密主義を貫く: to maintain one's secretiveness
- 秘密主義の人: a secretive person
- 徹底した秘密主義: thorough secretiveness
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 秘密: secret — a single piece of hidden information, not a habitual trait
- 隠蔽: concealment; cover-up — implies deliberate hiding of wrongdoing
- 口が堅い: tight-lipped — a positive trait of being good at keeping secrets