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
They are typically nominated by the NIH director then approved by the health secretary.
—
Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
The former Treasury secretary was named as a backup executor in a 2014 version of Epstein's will.
—Lola Murti,dan Mangan, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
The secretary has faced pressure from Democrats and Republicans after Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot dead during an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 14 Feb. 2026
The health secretary has been lambasted by critics over myriad issues ranging from vaccines to fluoride to dietary guidelines.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for secretary
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Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
The former Treasury secretary was named as a backup executor in a 2014 version of Epstein's will.
—Lola Murti,dan Mangan, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
The secretary has faced pressure from Democrats and Republicans after Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot dead during an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 14 Feb. 2026
The health secretary has been lambasted by critics over myriad issues ranging from vaccines to fluoride to dietary guidelines.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for secretary
Cite this Entry
“Secretary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretary. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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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