secretariat

noun

sec·​re·​tar·​i·​at ˌse-krə-ˈter-ē-ət 

-ē-ˌat

1

: the office of secretary

2

: a secretarial corps

specifically : the clerical staff of an organization

3

: the administrative department of a governmental organization

Examples of secretariat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The arrangement includes a new organization, to be overseen by a secretariat in Saudi Arabia, and regular meetings among the foreign and defense ministers of the three countries, along with their military chiefs. — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

The mechanism would establish a secretariat to be based in Saudi Arabia, Fidan said. — Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026

The three countries would also establish a secretariat, to be based in Saudi Arabia, Fidan said. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Mexico’s governance secretariat did ​not immediately ‌verify the authenticity of ​the certificate. — CNN Money, 18 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

French secrétariat, from Medieval Latin secretariatus, from secretarius

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for secretariat

• bivariate
• vicariate
• chariot
• lariat
• variate
• multivariate
• proletariat
• uniseriate
• univariate

Kids Definition

secretariat

noun

sec·​re·​tar·​i·​at ˌsek-rə-ˈter-ē-ət 

-ē-ˌat

1

: the secretaries of an organization

2

: the division of administration of a governmental organization

the United Nations secretariat