plural SCIFs
: a specially designed and secure room or enclosure in which highly classified government documents can be viewed by authorized personnel
The most commonly known SCIF is one of the most secured rooms within the White House—The Situation Room. Chandelis Duster
There are thousands of SCIFs in Washington and beyond, tucked into federal buildings, military installations, embassies and government contracting offices. They can range from phonebooth-sized rooms to entire floors of buildings. Derek Hawkins et al.

called also sensitive compartmented information facility

Examples of SCIF in a Sentence

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.
Officials with the appropriate security clearances enter a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), like the White House Situation Room, which is designed to block out eavesdropping and surveillance attempts. Sam Sabin, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025 Such conversations are supposed to take place in what's known as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), a secure room that top-ranking officials have in their offices and homes. Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

sensitive compartmented information facility

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of SCIF was in 1981

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“SCIF.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/SCIF. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!