transitive verb. : to remove or reduce the security classification of declassify a secret document.

Why do documents become declassified?

The automatic declassification process increases the potential release of formerly classified national security information to the general public and researchers, enhancing their knowledge of the United States' democratic institutions and history, while at the same time ensuring that information which can still cause ...

What's the difference between unclassified and declassified?

Information that is not so labeled is called "Unclassified information". The term declassified is used for information that has had its classification removed, and downgraded refers to information that has been assigned a lower classification level but is still classified.