secretary-general

noun

sec·​re·​tary-gen·​er·​al ˈse-krə-ˌter-ē-ˈjen-rəl How to pronounce secretary-general (audio)
-ˈje-nə-rəl
plural secretaries-general
: a principal administrative officer
secretary-general of the United Nations

Examples of secretary-general 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 Israeli army took out the entire leadership of the organization, including Hassan Nasrallah, its secretary-general, along with several thousand fighters and tens of thousands of rockets aimed at the heartland. Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2025 An advocate for the rights of women and girls, Trenou served as secretary-general of the Togolese women’s union during the 1960s. Time, 22 Sep. 2025 In the early 1960s, U Thant, a practicing Buddhist from a remote town in Burma, became the first non-Western secretary-general of the United Nations. Michele Kelemen, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025 As president, Baerbock will also oversee the selection of the next U.N. secretary-general, and many inside and outside the U.N. are pushing for a first woman Secretary-General. Stéphanie Fillion, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for secretary-general

Word History

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of secretary-general was in 1701

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Cite this Entry

“Secretary-general.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretary-general. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

secretary-general

noun
plural secretaries-general
: a principal officer of administration
secretary-general of the United Nations
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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