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
The Senate confirmation hearings for several of Trump’s Cabinet nominees were also disheartening, particularly the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing for Pete Hegseth to be the secretary of defense.
—
John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
Senate Votes To Confirm Pete Hegseth As Defense Secretary
By Sonam Sheth
Evening Politics Editor
111
Pete Hegseth eked out a victory Friday night when Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote to deliver him enough votes in the Senate to become the next secretary of defense.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Six people cycled through as homeland security secretary during Trump’s first four years in office.
—Associated Pess, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2025
This is most likely to come up as Rubio embarks on his first official visit to the region as secretary of state next week.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for secretary 
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John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
Senate Votes To Confirm Pete Hegseth As Defense Secretary
By Sonam Sheth
Evening Politics Editor
111
Pete Hegseth eked out a victory Friday night when Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote to deliver him enough votes in the Senate to become the next secretary of defense.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Six people cycled through as homeland security secretary during Trump’s first four years in office.
—Associated Pess, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2025
This is most likely to come up as Rubio embarks on his first official visit to the region as secretary of state next week.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for secretary
Dictionary Entries Near secretary
Cite this Entry
“Secretary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretary. Accessed 6 Feb. 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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