secretary

play

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

Definition of secretary

plural

secretaries

1 : one employed to handle correspondence and manage routine and detail work for a superior
2a : 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 interestsb : 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
4a : writing desk, escritoireb : 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

Dr. Lynne M. Saddler, district director of health, serves as secretary to the board.

— cincinnati enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Tony Kramer to chair NKY board of health," 19 July 2017
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin answered email questions through a press secretary saying the Republican Caucus will push for property tax reform in the summer and fall sessions.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Area lawmakers fear reforms died with Illinois budget," 18 July 2017
According to the department's website, acting assistant secretary is Don Wright.

— krystin arneson, Glamour, "The Trump Administration Just Quietly Cut $214 Million From Teen Birth Control Programs," 16 July 2017
The war’s outcome is fixed, but one winces nevertheless every time John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, or the defense secretary who served them both, Robert S. McNamara, ignores or rejects a plausible exit strategy.

— vanityfair.com, "Why The Vietnam War Is Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s Most Ambitious Project Yet," 12 July 2017
Information about how to register online and other information is available on the secretary of state website.

— mike cason, AL.com, "Voter registration deadline for Alabama Senate race is July 31," 10 July 2017
Evelyn Farkas, a former deputy assistant defense secretary for Russia and Ukraine under Obama administration, told Bloomberg.

— abigail tracy, The Hive, "Is Trump About to Get Played by Putin?," 5 July 2017
Ellen Mauer, who is also the current secretary of the school board, declined comment through her defense attorney, Brian Smith, after entering the not guilty plea Wednesday morning in Lake County Circuit Court.

— jim newton, Lake County News-Sun, "Not guilty plea entered in Libertyville-Vernon Hills school district perjury case," 5 July 2017
White House adviser Kellyanne Conway and health secretary Tom Price echoed that argument over the last week as well.

— vann r. newkirk ii, The Atlantic, "The Senate's Plan Makes Medicaid a Time Bomb," 3 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

Other Business Terms

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

SECRETARY Defined for English Language Learners

secretary

play

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

play

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 cap 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