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
Names that have reportedly been on the hot seat at various points in 2025 include Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (the administration refers to him as secretary of war), as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
—
Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026
The House version of the NDAA, meanwhile, included a measure ordering the war secretary to produce a report on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, possibly recommending additional missile and air defense resources, enhancing security in the country.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 3 Jan. 2026
The secretary noted that military leaders didn’t know the precise timing of the action because of unpredictable weather conditions.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2026
When Krakowski joined the cast of Ally McBeal, her character, Elaine Vassal, was still mostly imagined as a flirty secretary.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for secretary
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Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026
The House version of the NDAA, meanwhile, included a measure ordering the war secretary to produce a report on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, possibly recommending additional missile and air defense resources, enhancing security in the country.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 3 Jan. 2026
The secretary noted that military leaders didn’t know the precise timing of the action because of unpredictable weather conditions.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2026
When Krakowski joined the cast of Ally McBeal, her character, Elaine Vassal, was still mostly imagined as a flirty secretary.
—Keaton Bell, Vogue, 2 Jan. 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 6 Jan. 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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