secretary

noun

sec·​re·​tary ˈse-krə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce secretary (audio)
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
b
: a writing desk with a top section for books
secretarial adjective
secretaryship noun

Illustration of secretary

Illustration of secretary
  • secretary 4b

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 In 2022, Su was confirmed as deputy labor secretary in a close vote. Annie Kronenberg, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024 Bill McGinley, a longtime election attorney who served in the Trump administration as White House Cabinet secretary, will be taking the role of outside counsel for election integrity. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024 Billionaire and sister to former U.S. secretary of transportation Elaine Chao, Angela Chao, drowned in her Tesla Model X after accidentally reversing into a pond on a 900-acre Texas ranch last month. Erin Marquis / Jalopnik, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 The issue is key to stalling approval of Su, who previously served as California’s labor secretary, for the permanent post at the federal level. Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 In 2012, Myers registered a company in Fayette County called Gump Communications LLC, with the Ohio secretary of state. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 Additionally, language that allows the attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer to carry guns at the Statehouse was resurrected and added to this bill. Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Mar. 2024 Just last year, Genaro Garcia Luna, Mexico’s former security secretary, was found guilty on drug trafficking charges in a U.S. court. Karol Suárez, The Courier-Journal, 11 Mar. 2024 Cabinet secretaries and senior White House officials are embarking on their own post-State of the Union travel blitz to amplify Biden’s message starting Friday and continuing throughout the coming weeks, hitting not only swing states but rural territory such as Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee. Will Weissert, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'secretary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English secretarie, from Medieval Latin secretarius, confidential employee, secretary, from Latin secretum secret, from neuter of secretus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of secretary was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near secretary

Cite this Entry

“Secretary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

secretary

noun
sec·​re·​tary ˈsek-rə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce secretary (audio)
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
secretarial adjective

Legal Definition

secretary

noun
sec·​re·​tary
plural secretaries
often capitalized
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

More from Merriam-Webster on secretary

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