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
Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary with the Department of Homeland Security, claimed that the demonstrators were preventing an ICE vehicle from leaving the federal facility and hampering operations.
—
David Chiu, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
D’Alimonte spent more than a decade at Paramount Global and its predecessor, Viacom, most recently as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2025
As Homeland Security secretary, Noem oversees the Transportation Security Administration, the federal agency that conducts airport security checks.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
When Hamilton refused him legal help, Reynolds told all who would listen that the Treasury secretary had masterminded his financial chicanery.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secretary
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David Chiu, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
D’Alimonte spent more than a decade at Paramount Global and its predecessor, Viacom, most recently as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2025
As Homeland Security secretary, Noem oversees the Transportation Security Administration, the federal agency that conducts airport security checks.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
When Hamilton refused him legal help, Reynolds told all who would listen that the Treasury secretary had masterminded his financial chicanery.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 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 15 Oct. 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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