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
Cleta Mitchell, the secretary of C.P.I. and a lawyer for Trump, was central in advancing this idea.
—
Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
Ben Carson, secretary of housing and urban development in Trump's first term, was never a front line VP candidate, but his loyalty as one of the few cabinet members who stuck with Trump for all four years could earn him a spot in a second Trump administration.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 15 July 2024
But Julie Rimer, who serves as the secretary of the Mount Washington Community Council, differs with Jeffreys framing the provision as a safeguard to keep out-of-town landlords from building accessory dwelling units for more profits.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Enquirer, 14 July 2024
Top advisers during his first term in the White House, including six Cabinet secretaries and his first deputy chief of staff, worked on the policy document.
—Nina Moske, Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for secretary 
Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
Ben Carson, secretary of housing and urban development in Trump's first term, was never a front line VP candidate, but his loyalty as one of the few cabinet members who stuck with Trump for all four years could earn him a spot in a second Trump administration.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 15 July 2024
But Julie Rimer, who serves as the secretary of the Mount Washington Community Council, differs with Jeffreys framing the provision as a safeguard to keep out-of-town landlords from building accessory dwelling units for more profits.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Enquirer, 14 July 2024
Top advisers during his first term in the White House, including six Cabinet secretaries and his first deputy chief of staff, worked on the policy document.
—Nina Moske, Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for secretary
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 26 Jul. 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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