declassify

verb

de·​clas·​si·​fy (ˌ)dē-ˈkla-sə-ˌfī How to pronounce declassify (audio)
declassified; declassifying; declassifies

transitive verb

: to remove or reduce the security classification of
declassify a secret document
declassification
(ˌ)dē-ˌkla-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce declassify (audio)
noun

Examples of declassify in a Sentence

The government has not yet declassified that information.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After that, its existence was officially declassified to the surprise of absolutely no one. — David Szondy august 01, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026 The document was declassified four years ago but is heavily redacted. — Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 30 July 2026 Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declassified documents related to Wuhan lab funding and released them just before leaving her post in June, and this will be the first congressional hearing on the subject since then. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 28 July 2026 The Biden administration’s decision to declassify intelligence on Russian preparations leading up to the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine moved unusually fast by intelligence standards. — Brian O'Neill, The Conversation, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for declassify

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of declassify was in 1945

Rhymes for declassify

See All Rhymes for declassify

Browse Nearby Words

declassification
declassify
de clauso fracto
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Cite this Entry

“Declassify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/declassify. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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