: 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
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.
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And the defense secretary forcefully denied sharing classified airstrike plans in a group chat − and attacked the journalist who received them.—Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025 Kennedy's appointment as secretary of Health and Human Services has been met with simultaneous praise and skepticism based on his many beliefs.—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025 As secretary of state, Thomas Jefferson was charged with using diplomacy and then bribery to secure the safety of our sailors and the seas.—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025 Martin: So at the moment, the defense secretary Hegseth doesn't seem inclined to resign and the president doesn't seem inclined to ask him to or require him to.—Obed Manuel, NPR, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for secretary
Word History
Etymology
Middle English secretarie, from Medieval Latin secretarius, confidential employee, secretary, from Latin secretum secret, from neuter of secretus
: 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
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