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secretariat

noun

sec·​re·​tar·​i·​at ˌse-krə-ˈter-ē-ət How to pronounce secretariat (audio)
-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
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.
Temer downgraded the Ministry of Culture to a sub-secretariat under the presidential office, stripping it of autonomy and budget. Caio Delcolli, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025 The rotating presidency exists to preserve continuity and engagement of its members, especially as each member must provide a full secretariat and set the agenda and plan for the year of its hosting. Hannah Ryder, semafor.com, 24 Nov. 2025 In Southeast Asia, the stronger flow of goods is a concern, according to Rebecca Sta Maria, former executive director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation secretariat. Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025 Starting Wednesday, the state’s second-largest secretariat will be led by Susan Terrey, currently the deputy secretary and homeland security undersecretary at the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. State House News Service, Boston Herald, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for secretariat

Word History

Etymology

French secrétariat, from Medieval Latin secretariatus, from secretarius

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of secretariat was in 1811

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Secretariat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretariat. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

secretariat

noun
sec·​re·​tar·​i·​at ˌsek-rə-ˈter-ē-ət How to pronounce secretariat (audio)
-ē-ˌat
1
: the secretaries of an organization
2
: the division of administration of a governmental organization
the United Nations secretariat

More from Merriam-Webster on secretariat

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