secretary-general

noun

sec·​re·​tary-gen·​er·​al ˈse-krə-ˌter-ē-ˈjen-rəl 

-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

Four days later, Pakistan appointed the first secretary-general to the three-country arrangement – officially called the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. — John Calabrese, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026

Typically, a secretary-general ends up serving two five-year terms. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep. 2026

The secretary-general’s last speech is his opportunity to defend his tenure as the UN’s leader, Forti added. — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026

In a party leadership revamp Wednesday, Takaichi retained a kingmaker and former Prime Minister Taro Aso as LDP vice president, his brother-in-law Shunichi Suzuki as secretary-general and a few of her right-wing allies. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for secretary-general

• general

Kids Definition

secretary-general

noun

plural secretaries-general

: a principal officer of administration

secretary-general of the United Nations