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

The list asks how a potential juror feels about African-Americans and Christians, if the person has worked as a secretary, or if the person has opinions about women working in politics, according to the document.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Attorneys prep for start of Calumet Township Trustee trial Monday", 2 June 2017
Her powers set her apart from other humans, but among the other members of the Justice League, she was relegated to secretary.

— maya rupert, The Atlantic, "Imagining a Black Wonder Woman", 29 May 2017
On May’s watch -- as home secretary for six years and then as premier -- the number of police officers in England and Wales fell about 15 percent.

— alex morales, Bloomberg.com, "Manchester Terror Suspects May Still Be at Large, Rudd Says", 28 May 2017
His Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, has said the United States reserves the right to be protectionist if trade arrangements are unfair to U.S. companies and workers.

— david mchugh, The Seattle Times, "G-7 source: US gets more time on in-out climate pact answer", 27 May 2017
Miller has filled a policy void left by a weak multilateral affairs division in the White House, and a secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, who has shown little interest in refugees, according to a U.S. official.

— chicagotribune.com, "Trump adviser Stephen Miller blocked G7 migration proposal", 26 May 2017
The Trilateral connection and Dr. Brzezinski’s foreign policy credentials helped boost Carter to victory over incumbent President Gerald R. Ford — whose secretary of state was Kissinger — three years later.

— jim hoagland, Washington Post, "Zbigniew Brzezinski, foreign policy intellectual who served as Carter’s national security adviser, dies at 89", 26 May 2017
Gianforte defeated Democrat Rob Quist on Thursday to replace Ryan Zinke, who is now President Donald Trump's interior secretary.

— associated press, AL.com, "Greg Gianforte wins Montana House race despite being charged with assault of reporter", 26 May 2017
President Barack Obama and John Kerry, the former secretary of state, had hoped the deal, while limited to nuclear fuel production, would open a pathway to cooperation between the two countries.

— matt flegenheimer and david e. sanger, New York Times, "Senate Panel Approves Stiff Iran Sanctions and Says Russia Is Next", 25 May 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!

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