in absolute secrecy; with utmost secrecy
Used adverbially as 極秘裏に to describe actions carried out under the strictest confidentiality. Often found in formal or official contexts.
The negotiations were conducted in absolute secrecy.
A meeting was held with utmost secrecy.
Standard kanji spelling. The character 裏 is the modern form.
Variant using the older character 裡. Less common in modern writing.
Compound of 極秘 (top secret) and 裏 (back, hidden side), literally 'behind the scenes of top secrecy'. The reading ごくひり is a standard on'yomi combination.