secretary-general

noun

sec·​re·​tary-gen·​er·​al ˈse-krə-ˌter-ē-ˈjen-rəl 

-ˈje-nə-rəl

plural secretaries-general

: a principal administrative officer

secretary-general of the United Nations

Examples of secretary-general in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a party leadership revamp Wednesday, Takaichi retained a kingmaker and former Prime Minister Taro Aso as LDP vice president, his brother-in-law Shunichi Suzuki as secretary-general and a few of her right-wing allies. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

The key challenge for a secretary-general is to figure out what is achievable in each of the three roles. — Ian Johnstone, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026

So far, its members have never rejected a recommendation for the secretary-general role. — Tim Backshall, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2026

Among those on the visit was Carla Barnett, secretary-general of the Caribbean Community. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for secretary-general

• general

Kids Definition

secretary-general

noun

plural secretaries-general

: a principal officer of administration

secretary-general of the United Nations