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
Nicholas Kent is President Donald Trump's pick to serve as under secretary in the Department of Education.
—
Chris Quintana, USA Today, 26 July 2025
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed Yang’s deportation in a statement to CNN.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 25 July 2025
July 12: Acosta resigns as labor secretary, saying the Epstein matter is a distraction from his agency's work.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 25 July 2025
Jackson is a close ally of Trump, who tried to install the Texan as his Veterans Affairs secretary during his first term.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for secretary
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Chris Quintana, USA Today, 26 July 2025
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed Yang’s deportation in a statement to CNN.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 25 July 2025
July 12: Acosta resigns as labor secretary, saying the Epstein matter is a distraction from his agency's work.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 25 July 2025
Jackson is a close ally of Trump, who tried to install the Texan as his Veterans Affairs secretary during his first term.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 25 July 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 29 Jul. 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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