The process of removing something from its official classification status, especially removing a secret government document from being classified.
From de- (remove) + class + -ing. The term emerged in the 20th century with the development of modern document classification systems in government and military contexts.
During the Cold War, thousands of documents were kept secret for decades—but declassification experts estimate that over 99% of declassed materials were never actually a threat to national security, revealing how overly cautious governments can be.
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