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
After much government wrangling, Angela Rayner, the UK’s deputy prime minister and housing secretary, is expected to make a final decision on whether to green light the controversial plans by September 9.
—
Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
The meeting took place at Chevening, an almost 400-year-old mansion surrounded by 3,000 acres of gardens that serves as the foreign secretary's official country residence.
—Danica Kirka, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2025
Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Workers Union, which represents 60,000 Vegas workers, said federal immigration and economic policies are keeping international travelers away.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2025
The first panel will include an overview of the state of homelessness in California and policy proposals with Blakespear and Dhakshike Widkrema, deputy secretary of homelessness at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secretary
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
The meeting took place at Chevening, an almost 400-year-old mansion surrounded by 3,000 acres of gardens that serves as the foreign secretary's official country residence.
—Danica Kirka, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2025
Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Workers Union, which represents 60,000 Vegas workers, said federal immigration and economic policies are keeping international travelers away.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2025
The first panel will include an overview of the state of homelessness in California and policy proposals with Blakespear and Dhakshike Widkrema, deputy secretary of homelessness at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
—Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Aug. 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 Sep. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share