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
During the ceremony, Jerry Miranda, secretary of the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 70, read the names of local veterans who have died within the past year.
—
Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
The sheer complexity of a deal, which will take years to complete and require multiagency input, forced Trump’s first treasury secretary to shelve their sale, and experts believe the same hurdles pose significant challenges this time around, too.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2025
But, under the new Medicaid law, which goes into effect July 1, Hutchings-Goetz said the state’s Family and Social Services Administration secretary has the authority to end the Healthy Indiana Plan.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
Ursula von der Leyen, the leader of the European Union, and the new secretary general of NATO, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, recognize that the moment is critical.
—James Stavridis, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for secretary
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Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
The sheer complexity of a deal, which will take years to complete and require multiagency input, forced Trump’s first treasury secretary to shelve their sale, and experts believe the same hurdles pose significant challenges this time around, too.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2025
But, under the new Medicaid law, which goes into effect July 1, Hutchings-Goetz said the state’s Family and Social Services Administration secretary has the authority to end the Healthy Indiana Plan.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
Ursula von der Leyen, the leader of the European Union, and the new secretary general of NATO, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, recognize that the moment is critical.
—James Stavridis, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for secretary
Cite this Entry
“Secretary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretary. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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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