: one employed to handle correspondence and manage routine and detail work for a superior
2
a
: an officer of a business concern who may keep records of directors' and stockholders' meetings and of stock ownership and transfer and help supervise the company's legal interests
b
: an officer of an organization or society responsible for its records and correspondence
3
: an officer of state who superintends a government administrative department
You can set up an appointment with my secretary.
He works as a legal secretary.
He was the club's secretary.
He is a junior secretary at the embassy.
Recent Examples on the WebBut Shirley Weber, California’s secretary of state, tried to anyway during the final meeting of the state’s reparations task force.—Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024 The secretary is expected to push for a plan calling for a temporary cease-fire that would build to a permanent truce, a release of hostages and an eventual withdrawal of Israel from Gaza.—Steve Lohr, New York Times, 8 June 2024 The subject of this engaging and admiring biography went on to lead the Allies to victory in World War II and, later, to serve as secretary of state and secretary of defense; the plan that helped rebuild Europe in the war’s aftermath bears his name.—Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 June 2024 At the Reno campaign rally, Trump addressed an FBI investigation involving Clinton, to determine whether classified information was improperly handled on her email servers during her time as secretary of state.—Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 5 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for secretary
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'secretary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English secretarie, from Medieval Latin secretarius, confidential employee, secretary, from Latin secretum secret, from neuter of secretus
: an officer of a business concern who may keep records of directors' and stockholders' meetings and of stock ownership and transfer and help supervise the company's interests
2
: a government officer who superintends an administrative department
Share