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secretary

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛkrɪt(ə)ri/

Translate secretary | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of secretary

noun (plural secretaries)

  • a person employed by an individual or in an office to assist with correspondence, make appointments, and carry out administrative tasks: she was secretary to David Wilby MP
  • an official of a society or other organization who conducts its correspondence and keeps its records: she was secretary of the Women’s Labour League
  • the principal assistant of a UK government minister or ambassador: [as title]:Chief Secretary to the Treasury
  • an official in charge of a US government department.

Derivatives

secretarial

Pronunciation: /-ˈtɛːrɪəl/

adjective

secretaryship

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (originally in the sense 'person entrusted with a secret'): from late Latin secretarius 'confidential officer', from Latin secretum 'secret', neuter of secretus (see secret)

Spelling help

Spell secretary with an e after the r; the ending is -ary.

secretary in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of secretary in the US English dictionary

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