What does classified mean? | Macmillan Dictionary Blog

classified information is officially secret and allowed to be known by only a few people connected with the government or armed forces

Classified is an adjective that refers to sensitive material controlled by government bodies. Classified information is designated as officially secret, with accessibility to information sources restricted to authorized individuals with security clearance, subject to relevant background investigation. The mishandling of classified information can result in severe criminal penalties. Freedom of information legislation has made data more widely available to the public as long as it is not deemed to be classified information that would be damaging to national security if released.

It has been alleged that President of the United States Donald Trump revealed highly classified information in a meeting with Russian officials this week. Foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, met with the President in the Oval Office to discuss intelligence compiled about Islamic State and security threats concerning counter-terrorist efforts. Claims that Trump revealed classified information have highlighted how dangerous the leaking of secret information is, potentially compromising the safety of the American public. This news comes just a few days after Trump fired the director of the FBI over a federal investigation of possible ties between the President and officials in Moscow.