Secretary of State

noun phrase

1
: the head of the U.S. government department that is in charge of how the country relates to and deals with foreign countries
2
: the head of one of several important departments of the British government
the Secretary of State for Home Affairs

Examples of Secretary of State 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.
The reports about Clinton, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, come as Democratic strategists weigh who could consolidate support in a rapidly expanding field. Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 That distinction goes to Doug Billings, who is still actively campaigning despite his name being removed from the Secretary of State’s candidate list. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025 The committee also subpoenaed several other high-profile individuals, such as former president Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Lauren Peller, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2025 After the United States exited the nuclear deal, Iran allegedly tried to kill former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, and the Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Secretary of State

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Secretary of State.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Secretary%20of%20State. Accessed 8 Sep. 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!