If you are secretive, you like to have secrets and to keep your knowledge, feelings, or intentions hidden. Billionaires are usually fairly secretive about the exact amount that they're worth. + secretively se·cre·tive·ly a banknote handed over secretively in the entrance to a building. + secretiveness se·cre·tive·ness He was evasive, to the point of secretiveness. a secretive person or organization likes to keep their thoughts, intentions, or actions hidden from others