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: 26 Apr 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

—

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

Kivelidi’s personal secretary and a forensic expert who did the autopsy also died.

— Washington Post, "A Cold War poison resurfaces in a quiet English town," 23 Apr. 2018
By Saturday afternoon, Teddy is back at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, conferring with a ten-man war room that includes JFK's former speechwriter Ted Sorenson (Taylor Nichols) and secretary of defense, Robert McNamara (Clancy Brown).

— j.r. jones, Chicago Reader, "Chappaquiddick: How to spin a movie about spin?," 19 Apr. 2018
His chances were probably enhanced by reports that the president dispatched his CIA chief and secretary of State nominee to Pyongyang over Easter weekend to meet secretly with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

— howard lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, "In Kim story, a likely ratings boost for diplomatic repairman designee Pompeo," 18 Apr. 2018
The couple moved to Albuquerque, N.M., where Lois continued working as a medical secretary and Jim attended graduate school at the University of New Mexico.

— courant.com, "Lois Riley Leavenworth," 18 Apr. 2018
In 1962, after charming Roig’s wife and secretary, he was introduced to the man himself.

— néstor martí, Smithsonian, "The Man Who Saved Havana," 18 Apr. 2018
Pam Iovino, the former assistant secretary in the Department of Veterans Affairs and a Navy veteran, had hoped to capture the Democratic nomination in the 18th Congressional District last fall.

— eliza collins, USA TODAY, "Trump prompts Dem women to run for Congress in PA, but they face 'old boys network'," 18 Apr. 2018
Nicosia’s honors include being elected freshman class president, junior class president and Associated Student Body secretary.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "Seven vying to become next Miss Rancho Bernardo," 15 Apr. 2018
Sheela is Bhagwan’s personal secretary and his right-hand man.

— allison p. davis, The Cut, "Last Night’s Atlanta Was All About Drake!," 13 Apr. 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