secretary
SEHK-ruh-tuh-ree
Secretary (noun) means a person who handles correspondence, records, and administrative tasks for a person or organisation. Example: “The club secretary sends out the meeting notes every month.”
noun
1
A person who handles correspondence, records, and administrative tasks for a person or organisation.
"The club secretary sends out the meeting notes every month."
"I phoned the secretary to ask when the director would be free."
"His secretary scheduled all his meetings for the week."
2
A government official in charge of a particular department.
"Well briefly, sir, I am the Permanent Under Secretary of State, known as the Permanent Secretary."
— Antony Jay, Open Government (1980)
"The education secretary announced new plans for school meals."
"As health secretary, she answered questions from reporters about the hospital."
"The Secretary of State met with foreign diplomats on Tuesday."
How to use secretary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who handles admin and correspondence, or a senior government official leading a department.
Common pairings
personal secretary
Secretary of State
company secretary
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Word forms
- Plural
- secretaries
- Third person singular
- secretaries
- Past tense
- secretaried
Fill the gap
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The club _____ sends out the meeting notes every month.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin "secretarius" ("one entrusted with secrets"), from Latin "secretus" ("private, secret").
Synonyms
View more →
personal assistant
aide
repository
escritoire
administrator
assistant
administrative assistant
amanuensis
clerk
scribe
scrivener
seneschal
Related words
Rhymes for secretary
See all rhymes for secretary →Frequently asked questions
What does “secretary” mean?
The word “secretary” means a person who handles correspondence, records, and administrative tasks for a person or organisation. In plain terms, someone who handles admin and correspondence, or a senior government official leading a department.
How do you pronounce “secretary”?
“Secretary” is pronounced SEHK-ruh-tuh-ree (/ˈsɛk.(ɹ)əˌtɛɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “secretary” in a sentence?
Here is “secretary” used in a sentence: “His secretary scheduled all his meetings for the week.”
What is another word for “secretary”?
Words with a similar meaning to “secretary” include administrator, assistant, administrative assistant, amanuensis, clerk and scribe.
What part of speech is “secretary”?
“Secretary” is a noun.
Where does the word “secretary” come from?
The word “secretary” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin "secretarius" ("one entrusted with secrets"), from Latin "secretus" ("private, secret").
Is “secretary” a common word?
“Secretary” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “secretary” have?
“Secretary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who handles correspondence, records, and administrative tasks for a person or organisation.
What is the difference between a secretary and a personal assistant?
A secretary handles general administrative work such as correspondence, filing, scheduling and records, often for a team or office. A personal assistant supports one specific individual, usually a senior manager, taking on more personal and higher-level tasks like managing their diary, travel and priorities. The PA role is tied more closely to one person.
What is the difference between a secretary and a receptionist?
A receptionist works at the front desk, greeting visitors, answering the main phone line and directing enquiries. A secretary handles broader behind-the-scenes admin such as letters, reports and appointments. Their duties can overlap in small offices, but a receptionist is the first point of contact, while a secretary provides ongoing support.
What does a company secretary do?
A company secretary is a senior corporate role, quite different from a general office secretary. They make sure the organisation follows the law and good governance, keeping statutory records, filing official documents and supporting the board of directors. It is a position of legal responsibility rather than routine clerical work.
Why is the role called a 'secretary'?
The word comes from the Latin 'secretarius', meaning a person entrusted with secrets. Historically a secretary was a confidant who dealt with private and confidential correspondence for a powerful person. That sense of handling sensitive information survives today, even though the role now centres on administration.
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