Illustration of secretary
- secretary 4b
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
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
b
: a writing desk with a top section for books
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 on the Web
Eventually, Clementine, who had changed her mind about the work, asked Churchill’s secretary, Grace Hamblin, for advice.
—
Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Apr. 2024
The pace of change in AI means U.K. law is simply failing to keep pace with how firms could be adopting the technology to streamline their HR processes, to the detriment of workers, the TUC assistant general secretary Kate Bell.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 18 Apr. 2024
Mayorkas Impeachment: Republicans say the Senate’s quick dismissal of charges against Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, sets a dangerous precedent.
—Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
In 2019, Trump installed David Bernhardt, a lobbyist for agricultural water users, as Interior secretary.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
More recently, Barca was appointed secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue in 2019 and resigned from the post last month, winning accolades from Republicans who praised him for his ability to work across the aisle.
—Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
The historic nature of the trial -- the first time in nearly 150 years that a Cabinet secretary was impeached -- contrasted with the almost routine feel of the proceedings after senators have sat through two previous impeachment trials against former President Donald Trump in 2020 and 2021.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 18 Apr. 2024
The impeachment push in the House Many Republicans in Congress want to punish Mayorkas for the Biden administration's handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, claiming that the secretary has failed to enforce the nation's laws and stop tens of thousands of migrants from crossing the border.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024
Dialogue in both storylines eddies with 1980s references, including to Live Aid, Baby Jessica (rescued from a well), Health and Human Services secretary Margaret M. Heckler, the 1986 U.S. airstrikes against Libya and the 1985 surgery on Ronald Reagan’s colon.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Apr. 2024
The pace of change in AI means U.K. law is simply failing to keep pace with how firms could be adopting the technology to streamline their HR processes, to the detriment of workers, the TUC assistant general secretary Kate Bell.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 18 Apr. 2024
Mayorkas Impeachment: Republicans say the Senate’s quick dismissal of charges against Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, sets a dangerous precedent.
—Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
In 2019, Trump installed David Bernhardt, a lobbyist for agricultural water users, as Interior secretary.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
More recently, Barca was appointed secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue in 2019 and resigned from the post last month, winning accolades from Republicans who praised him for his ability to work across the aisle.
—Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
The historic nature of the trial -- the first time in nearly 150 years that a Cabinet secretary was impeached -- contrasted with the almost routine feel of the proceedings after senators have sat through two previous impeachment trials against former President Donald Trump in 2020 and 2021.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 18 Apr. 2024
The impeachment push in the House Many Republicans in Congress want to punish Mayorkas for the Biden administration's handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, claiming that the secretary has failed to enforce the nation's laws and stop tens of thousands of migrants from crossing the border.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024
Dialogue in both storylines eddies with 1980s references, including to Live Aid, Baby Jessica (rescued from a well), Health and Human Services secretary Margaret M. Heckler, the 1986 U.S. airstrikes against Libya and the 1985 surgery on Ronald Reagan’s colon.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'secretary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near secretary
Cite this Entry
“Secretary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretary. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
secretary
noun
sec·re·tary
ˈsek-rə-ˌter-ē
plural secretaries
1
: a person employed to handle records, letters, and routine work for another person
2
: an officer of a business corporation or society who has charge of the letters and records
3
: a government official in charge of a division
Secretary of State
4
: a desk with a top section for books
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