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View synonyms for

secretary

[ sek-ri-ter-ee ]

noun

plural secretaries.
  1. a person, usually an official, who is in charge of the records, correspondence, minutes of meetings, and related affairs of an organization, company, association, etc.:

    the secretary of the Linguistic Society of America.

  2. a person employed to handle correspondence and do routine work in a business office, usually involving taking dictation, typing, filing, and the like.
  3. (often initial capital letter) an officer of state charged with the superintendence and management of a particular department of government, as a member of the president's cabinet in the U.S.:

    Secretary of the Treasury.

  4. Also called diplomatic secretary. a diplomatic official of an embassy or legation who ranks below a counselor and is usually assigned as first secretary, second secretary, or third secretary.
  5. a piece of furniture for use as a writing desk.
  6. Also called secretary bookcase. a desk with bookshelves on top of it.


secretary

/ -ərɪ; ˈsɛkrətrɪ; ˌsɛkrɪˈtɛərɪəl /

noun

  1. a person who handles correspondence, keeps records, and does general clerical work for an individual, organization, etc
  2. the official manager of the day-to-day business of a society or board
  3. (in Britain) a senior civil servant who assists a government minister
  4. (in the US and New Zealand) the head of a government administrative department
  5. (in Britain) See secretary of state
  6. (in Australia) the head of a public service department
  7. diplomacy the assistant to an ambassador or diplomatic minister of certain countries
  8. another name for secretaire
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • secretarial, adjective
  • ˈ𳦰ٲ󾱱, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ۱·ٲy·󾱱 noun
  • ܲ·۱·ٲy noun plural subsecretaries
  • sub·۱·ٲy·󾱱 noun
  • under·۱·ٲy·󾱱 noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of secretary1

1350–1400; Middle English secretarie one trusted with private or secret matters; confidant < Medieval Latin ŧŧܲ < Latin ŧŧ ( um ) secret (noun) + -ary
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Word History and Origins

Origin of secretary1

C14: from Medieval Latin ŧŧܲ, from Latin ŧŧum something hidden; see secret
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Conservative shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said it sent a "clear message" to the government that it needs to "rethink" its approach to net zero.

From

On Tuesday, the White House commented on Carney's win, with deputy press secretary Anna Kelly saying: "The election does not affect President Trump's plan to make Canada America's cherished 51st state."

From

“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a press conference.

From

Conservative acting shadow energy secretary, Andrew Bowie said the government needed to "urgently change course".

From

National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede said Ofsted needed to "come up with a system of accountability that reduced pressure on schools".

From

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secretariatsecretary bird