secretary

noun sec·re·tary \ ˈse-krə-ˌter-ē , ˈse-kə-ˌter- , in rapid speech also ˈsek-ˌter- , especially British ˈse-k(r)ə-trē \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Definition of secretary

plural secretaries

1 : one employed to handle correspondence and manage routine and detail work for a superior

2 a : an officer of a business concern who may keep records of directors' and stockholders' meetings and of stock ownership and transfer and help supervise the company's legal interests

b : an officer of an organization or society responsible for its records and correspondence

3 : an officer of state who superintends a government administrative department

the secretary of labor

4 a : writing desk, escritoire

b : a writing desk with a top section for books

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secretarial

play \ˌse-krə-ˈter-ē-əl\ adjective

—

secretaryship

play \ˈse-krə-ˌter-ē-ˌship\ noun

See secretary defined for English-language learners

See secretary defined for kids

Examples of secretary in a Sentence

You can set up an appointment with my secretary.
He works as a legal secretary.
He was the club's secretary.
He is a junior secretary at the embassy.

Recent Examples of secretary from the Web

But Christopher Meekins, a deputy assistant secretary at Health and Human Services, pointed to troubling examples the agency found during background checks under the longer process in the under 5 age group.

— kristina davis, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Trump administration outlines plan to reunify remaining 2,500 separated children," 14 July 2018
The four boys rescued Sunday have normal heart rates and no fever, and the two of them with lung infections are improving, said Jedsada Chokdumrongsuk, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry.

— Fox News, "Mission accomplished and boys healthy, rescuers head home," 13 July 2018
Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, said on July 8th, on a visit to Hanoi.

— The Economist, "Is North Korea the next Vietnam? Don’t count on it," 12 July 2018
The only response from the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington was a May 2017 quotation from the VA secretary at the time.

— anne saker, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati hospitals reluctantly realize that medical marijuana is coming to town," 11 July 2018
The secretary is under pressure to deliver a more concrete disarmament plan after the two leaders signed a vague 1-1/2 page document that didn’t provide a timetable for dismantling North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.

— Fortune, "North Korea Calls U.S. Attitude 'Extremely Regrettable' as Pompeo Cites Progress in Talks," 7 July 2018
Over 3,000 immigrant children remain separated from their parents, about 100 of whom are under the age of 5, Alex Azar, the secretary of Health and Human Services, said on Thursday.

— refinery29.com, "Some Migrant Families May Never Be Reunited & The Trump Administration Is To Blame," 6 July 2018
Maria Cancian, a former senior advisor and deputy assistant secretary at Health and Human Services, said the typical process the department followed to reunite children with parents who have been released from detention isn’t challenging.

— jazmine ulloa, latimes.com, "Trump administration ups its estimate of children separated from their parents to 3,000; about 100 are toddlers," 5 July 2018
The protestors also called for the resignations of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

— lavendrick smith, charlotteobserver, "'Ready for action': Charlotte protesters join effort against immigration policies," 30 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'secretary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of secretary

Origin and Etymology of secretary

Middle English secretarie, from Medieval Latin secretarius, confidential employee, secretary, from Latin secretum secret, from neuter of secretus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

secretary Synonyms

Synonyms

clerk, register, registrar, scribe;

annalist, chronicler, documenter, historian;

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

SECRETARY Defined for English Language Learners

secretary

noun

Definition of secretary for English Language Learners

: a person whose job is to handle records, letters, etc., for another person in an office
: a person in a club or other organization who is in charge of keeping letters and records
: an official who is selected by the President and is in charge of a particular department of the government

SECRETARY Defined for Kids

secretary

noun sec·re·tary \ ˈse-krə-ˌter-ē \

Definition of secretary for Students

plural secretaries

1 : a person who is employed to take care of records, letters, and routine work for another person

2 : an officer of a business corporation or society who is in charge of the letters and records and who keeps minutes of meetings

3 : a government official in charge of a department

the secretary of education

4 : a writing desk with a top section for books

Law Dictionary

secretary

noun, often capitalized sec·re·tary

legal Definition of secretary

plural secretaries

1 : an officer of a business concern who may keep records of directors' and stockholders' meetings and of stock ownership and transfer and help supervise the company's interests

2 : a government officer who superintends an administrative department