secretarysec‧re‧ta‧ry /ˈsekrətəri $ -teri-/ ●●● S2 W1 noun (plural secretaries) [countable] 
Word Origin
My secretary will fax you all the details.medical/legal secretary2a) (also Secretary of State) the head of an important department in the British government: the Foreign Secretary → Home Secretary b)an official in charge of a large government department in the US: the Secretary of Defense c)a British official who works in a government department or embassy and is below the rank of minister or ambassador: the First Secretary at the British Embassy → Secretary of State, undersecretary3a member of a club or organization who takes notes in meetings, writes official letters etc: the secretary of the tennis club
Word OriginWORD ORIGINsecretary
ExamplesOrigin:
1300-1400 Medieval Latin secretarius ‘someone who does private work for another, secretary’, from Latin secretus; ➔ SECRET1EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
word sets- the secretary of the chess club
- A secretary pops in to say that a lawyer insists on talking with Meagher immediately by phone.
- A company which has a sole director is required by s. 283 to have another person as its company secretary.
- But good news came when Truman appointed Dean Acheson secretary of state.
- He must have asked his secretary for the file on Andy, and she got the wrong one.
- He wants to be Northern Ireland secretary.
- The secretary lost Awlad Amira support and became a night watchman in a school.
- The secretary was enormously dissatisfied with how some of our programs were being managed, and made no bones about it.
WORD SETS► Occupations
Collocationsaccountant, nounactuary, nounadministrator, nounadviser, nounadvocate, nounamanuensis, nounarchivist, nounarmourer, nounauctioneer, nounaudiotypist, nounbackroom boy, nounbailiff, nounbaker, nounbanker, nounbarber, nounbargee, nounbarkeeper, nounbarker, nounbarmaid, nounbarman, nounbartender, nounbeachcomber, nounbeadle, nounbellboy, nounbellhop, nounbiographer, nounblacksmith, nounboatman, nounboatswain, nounbodyguard, nounboffin, nounbombardier, nounbookseller, nounboss, nounbotanist, nounbouncer, nounbreeder, nounbricklayer, nounbuckaroo, nounbuilder, nounbureaucrat, nounbutcher, nounbutler, nounbuyer, nouncabin boy, nouncabinet-maker, nouncareer counselor, nouncareers officer, nouncaretaker, nouncarpenter, nouncarter, nouncashier, nouncaterer, nounCEO, nouncertified public accountant, nounchairman, nounchambermaid, nounchandler, nounchar, nouncharlady, nouncharwoman, nounchef, nounchief executive officer, nounchief of staff, nounchildminder, nounchimney sweep, nouncleaner, nounclerk, nounclothier, nounclown, nouncoastguard, nouncobbler, nouncocktail waitress, nouncollier, nouncomedian, nouncomedienne, nouncomic, nouncommercial traveller, nouncommissionaire, nouncompositor, nounconcierge, nounconfectioner, nounconsultant, nouncook, nouncooper, nouncopy editor, nouncopywriter, nouncorrespondent, nouncostermonger, nouncounsellor, nouncourier, nouncowboy, nouncowgirl, nouncowhand, nouncowpoke, nounCPA, nouncraftsman, nouncrew, nouncrewman, nouncrofter, nouncroupier, nouncurator, nouncustodian, noundaily, noundairymaid, noundairyman, noundelivery man, noundesigner, noundesk clerk, noundetective, noundick, noundietician, noundinner lady, noundisc jockey, noundispatch rider, noundistrict nurse, noundiver, nounDJ, noundocent, noundocker, noundogcatcher, noundog warden, noundomestic, noundomestic service, noundoorkeeper, noundoorman, noundowser, noundramatist, noundraper, noundraughtsman, noundressmaker, noundriver, noundrover, noundruggist, noundustbin man, noundustman, nouneducationalist, nouneducator, nounelectrician, nounengineer, nounescort, nounessayist, nounestate agent, nounexecutive, nounfarmer, nounfarmhand, nounfarrier, nounfire chief, nounfirefighter, nounfireman, nounfirst mate, nounfirst officer, nounfishmonger, nounfitter, nounflorist, nounflower girl, nounforeman, nounforewoman, nounfrogman, nounfruiterer, nounfunctionary, nounfuneral director, nounfurrier, noungaffer, noungamekeeper, noungarbage collector, noungarbage man, noungardener, noungatekeeper, noungaucho, noungendarme, nounghost writer, nounglazier, noungoatherd, noungoldsmith, noungondolier, noungoverness, noungovernor, noungravedigger, noungreengrocer, noungrip, noungrocer, noungroom, noungroundsman, nounground staff, nounguard, nounguest worker, nounguide, noungunner, noungunsmith, nounhack, nounhandler, nounhandmaiden, nounhandyman, nounhangman, nounharvester, nounhatter, nounhawker, nounheadhunter, nounhead teacher, nounhelper, nounherald, nounherbalist, nounherdsman, nounhired hand, nounhireling, nounhistorian, nounhomemaker, nounhomeworker, nounhouse husband, nounhousewife, nouniceman, nounillustrator, nounimpersonator, nounimpresario, nounindustrialist, nouninnkeeper, nouninspector, nouninterior decorator, nouninterpreter, nouninvestigator, nounjanitor, nounjester, nounjeweller, nounjoiner, nounjourno, nounJP, nounjudge, nounkeeper, nounlamplighter, nounlandlady, nounlandlord, nounlibrarian, nounlocksmith, nounlongshoreman, nounmagician, nounmaid, nounmaid of honour, nounmaidservant, nounmail carrier, nounmailman, nounmaitre d', nounmajordomo, nounman, nounmanagement consultant, nounmanservant, nounmason, nounmasseur, nounmasseuse, nounmatador, nounmathematician, nounmechanic, nounmedic, nounmenial, adjectivemenial, nounmerchant seaman, nounmidwife, nounmilkmaid, nounmilkman, nounmilliner, nounminder, nounminer, nounminiaturist, nounminister, nounmodel, nounmortician, nounmover, nounmovie star, nounnanny, nounnavvy, nounnewscaster, nounnewsreader, nounnight porter, nounnight watchman, nounnovelist, nounnumber cruncher, nounnurse, nounnursemaid, nounnurseryman, nounnursery nurse, nounnursing, nounobstetrician, nounoccupation, nounodd-job man, nounoilman, nounold salt, nounoptician, nounostler, nounpacker, nounpaediatrician, nounpaediatrics, nounpageboy, nounpainter, nounpalmist, nounpaperboy, nounpaper girl, nounpaper-pusher, nounparachutist, nounparalegal, nounparamedic, nounpark keeper, nounparliamentarian, nounpathology, nounpawnbroker, nounpeasant, nounpedlar, nounpen pusher, nounpensioner, nounperformer, nounpersonal assistant, nounpharmacist, nounphotographer, nounpipe fitter, nounplanter, nounplasterer, nounplaywright, nounploughman, nounplumber, nounpoet, nounpolice, nounporter, nounpostman, nounpotter, nounpractitioner, nounprinter, nounprivate detective, nounprivate eye, nounprivate investigator, nounprivate practice, nounprivate secretary, nounpro, nounpro, adjectiveprobation officer, nounprofession, nounprofessional, adjectiveprofessional, nounprofessionally, adverbprogrammer, nounproperty developer, nounprostitute, nounpsychiatrist, nounpsychiatry, nounpsychoanalyst, nounpublican, nounpublic defender, nounpublicist, nounpublic prosecutor, nounpublic relations, nounpublisher, nounpurser, nounquantity surveyor, nounquestion master, nounrabbi, nounradiographer, nounradiologist, nounrag-and-bone-man, nounrancher, nounranger, nounreal estate agent, nounreceptionist, nounrecruit, nounrector, nounregistrar, nounrepo man, nounreporter, nounrestaurateur, nounretailer, nounreviewer, nounroadie, nounroad manager, nounrookie, nounroughneck, nounroustabout, nounsailor, nounsalesclerk, nounsalesgirl, nounsalesman, nounsalesperson, nounsales representative, nounsaleswoman, nounsanitation worker, nounscalper, nounschoolmaster, nounschoolmistress, nounschoolteacher, nounscout, nounscout, verbscrew, nounscribe, nounscrubber, nounsea captain, nounseaman, nounseamstress, nounsecretary, nounsecurity guard, nounsemi-professional, adjectiveservant, nounshepherd, nounshepherdess, nounship's chandler, nounshipwright, nounshoemaker, nounshopkeeper, nounsilversmith, nounsmith, nounsoldier, nounsoldier of fortune, nounspaceman, nounspiv, nounstallholder, nounstationer, nounsteeplejack, nounsteersman, nounsteno, nounstenographer, nounstevedore, nounstockbroker, nounstoker, nounstorekeeper, nounstraight man, nounstringer, nounstructural engineer, nounstylist, nounsubmariner, nounsuperintendent, nounsurveyor, nounsweep, nounswineherd, nountailor, nountanner, nountaster, nountattooist, nountaxidermist, nounteamster, nountelecommuter, nounteller, nountemp, nountemp, verbtinker, nountobacconist, nountown crier, nountrade, nountradesman, nountraffic warden, nountranslator, nountrapper, nountravel agent, nountravelling salesman, nountreasurer, nountroubleshooter, nountrucker, nounturner, nountypist, nountypographer, nounundertaker, noununderwriter, nounusher, nounusherette, nounusurer, nounvalet, nounvaluer, nounvice-president, nounvideo jockey, nounvillein, nounvintner, nounvocation, nounvocational, adjectivewaiter, nounwaitress, nounwallah, nounwarden, nounwarder, nounwasherwoman, nounwatchmaker, nounwatchman, nounweaver, nounwelder, nounwhaler, nounwheelwright, nounwindow cleaner, nounwindow dresser, nounwoodcutter, nounwoodsman, nounworkman, nounWPC, nounwrangler, nounwriter, nounyeoman, nounzoo-keeper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► medical/legal secretaryCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a club secretary
1someone who works in an office typing letters, keeping records, answering telephone calls, arranging meetings etc: · For further information about membership, contact the club secretary.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► assistant· And it was well worth it, argued Edward Walker, an assistant secretary of state.· The other was Dean Rusk, assistant secretary of state for Far Eastern affairs.· This is particularly true at the assistant secretary level.· Gerry Dicker, vice president and assistant secretary.· Huang was employed at Lippo for nine years before he joined the Commerce Department as deputy assistant secretary for international economic policy.
► cabinet· Zingale also said he hopes for the appointment of an openly gay Cabinet secretary.· The president has been known to circle something in a letter and pass it on to a top aide or Cabinet secretary.· Next weekend, Clinton will hold a retreat for Cabinet secretaries and senior staff at Camp David.· Three years later, four cabinet secretaries have faced Justice Department investigations on ethics charges.· If Dole becomes president and McCain becomes a Cabinet secretary, Symington could appoint himself as replacement.· So did cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, two former governors, current state officials, and scores of local dignitaries.
► chief· The chief cabinet secretary, Mikio Aoki, has been named acting prime minister.· And how is it possible that, to all appearances, neither the Treasury nor its chief secretary knew about it?· The chief secretary warned of the trouble it could cause if Eva moved the family.· The previous year her chief secretary had travelled home on black ice and thick snow.
► deputy· Hestarted working in Fujian in 1985 as the provincial deputy party secretary, moving into the top job in 1994.· Dean Rusk, deputy under secretary of state at the time, heralded the change in his characteristically bland style.· Huang was employed at Lippo for nine years before he joined the Commerce Department as deputy assistant secretary for international economic policy.· Powell lost his bid to have his ally Richard Armitage, appointed as deputy defence secretary under Rumsfeld.· Paul M.. Thayer, deputy secretary of defense, pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and lying.
► foreign· That is enough for now, thinks Britain's foreign secretary, Douglas Hurd.· As David Carlton stresses, Eden was not the most unequivocal foreign secretary.· During his two-week visit to Britain he is due to meet the foreign secretary, Douglas Hurd.· It was Gerald Kaufman, shadow foreign secretary, who did that for him, in a speech of vast sweeping grasp.· During his second and more important period as foreign secretary in 1822-27 Canning went considerably further in this direction.· Anthony Edne, the foreign secretary, was more cautious.· Herbert Morrison, the foreign secretary, was among the more belligerent.· Some ministers, including Sir Geoffrey Howe, the foreign secretary, are simply not interested in environmental issues.
► general· Gorbachev's re-election as general secretary Gorbachev was re-elected general secretary on July 10 by secret ballot.· Mr McLaughlin, 44 years old, was senior vice president, general counsel and secretary.· League general secretary Ron Bridges has blasted clubs who try to create a web of deception after being caught cheating.· But Larry Whitty, general secretary, said under party rules policy statements, such as the manifesto, were not amendable.· Labour's general secretary, Margaret McDonagh, called for the Short cash to be audited separately.· Georges Hawi was re-elected as general secretary, with Faruq Dahruj as his deputy.· The congress also selected a new 249-member central committee and elected Ambroise Noumazalay to the newly created post of general secretary.
► honorary· A cheque for that amount in pounds was later presented to Captain Shearer, honorary secretary of Eastbourne lifeboat.· And she is honorary secretary of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors, which also tackles live issues in the area.· Rawnsley, honorary secretary until his death, oversaw the acquisition of large areas of countryside.· A keen music lover he was also honorary general secretary of the Darlington Music Festival which finished at the weekend.· She was honorary secretary of the Schoolmistresses' Association and in 1867 its president.· She joined the Women's Social and Political Union and became its joint honorary secretary.· She served as its honorary secretary and then as chairman.· He was president of the county in 1964 and 1965 and was honorary secretary for 26 years until his death.
► legal· A LEGAL secretary who claimed she had been unfairly dismissed from work during sick leave is considering appealing after losing her case.· Carroll, a 53-year-old legal secretary who was stabbed and slashed 61 times at her home in northeast Escondido.· I am a single 33-year-old woman employed as a legal secretary.· She also mentioned that her daughter is a legal secretary.· On the jury questionnaire the woman listed her daughter as a legal secretary but neglected to say she was employed by Garcetti.
► new· Serge's new secretary opened Lili's mail and answered the telephone.· Tedford was a career army man before he became the Luffness New secretary.· If Cheney is a new kind of vice-president, Powell is also a new kind of secretary of state.· Gaggia machines burbled on marble bars, new secretaries clicked across polished floors, uniformed valets twirled glass doors.· The new secretary set out to run the navy like a business.· Her new secretary was arriving and was going to share her flat for a while.· The new secretary is Debbie Harrison.
► parliamentary· The function of the parliamentary state secretaries has not yet been clearly established.· Nominally he merely continued as parliamentary private secretary to Law at the Treasury.· The only ministers not belonging to the Cabinet are the parliamentary state secretaries.· Stavenhagen was replaced by Bernd Schmidbauer, 52, parliamentary state secretary in the Environment Ministry.· Were the reported remarks of his parliamentary private secretary in accordance with an official departmental brief?
► permanent· This week, for example, the permanent secretaries of all government departments will meet to discuss best practice in procurement.· He would have been a jolly good permanent secretary.· He liked to sit seeing others, including the permanent secretaries, arguing in front of him.· Within an hour the permanent secretary was banging away on his typewriter to prepare Alexi's forms.· It was hierarchical, with silly rows about the status and pay of its permanent secretary, Sir Eric Roll.· By the end of the afternoon the permanent secretary had signed the stencils.· In Opposition days, Heath the permanent secretary manqué set about preparing for government with a will.
► personal· She strode through the door to the outer office of his sanctum, past his personal secretary, who blinked in astonishment.· The Prime Minister's personal secretary, Ian Gow, also resigned.· He met Cherry, the personal secretary to Hampshire museum's boss, six years ago.
► private· Nominally he merely continued as parliamentary private secretary to Law at the Treasury.· At the same time one had to advise the Ambassador's private secretary of the change.· In the ensuing Parliament he served as a private secretary at the Colonial Office.· The new organization had the Secretary of State at its head assisted by a private secretary and a Précis Writer.· He sent his private secretary down the corridor to see Sir Norman Brook to ask if they could be provided.· Were the reported remarks of his parliamentary private secretary in accordance with an official departmental brief?· The message was from his private secretary at the Ministry.
NOUN► company· He is a cost accountant and also acts as company secretary in respect of share issues, pensions and the like.· Its chairman and company secretary are being questioned by police investigating allegations of fraud.· A company which has a sole director is required by s. 283 to have another person as its company secretary.· The normal practice is to appoint two or more directors, one of whom is the company secretary.· Mrs X, who also has other employment, is company secretary.· Arguably the company secretary was acting as agent for the shareholders.· Having said that, the fact is that Mrs X is company secretary and therefore a company employee.· He ran out of coins and asked the company secretary to ring him back.
► defence· Since he resigned as defence secretary over the Westland helicopter affair in 1986, he has campaigned for an active industrial policy.· But Donald Rumsfeld's appointment as defence secretary makes those predictions look naive.· The defence secretary paused, and then said that such questions were decided by the president, not by him.· Powell lost his bid to have his ally Richard Armitage, appointed as deputy defence secretary under Rumsfeld.· One notable exception was John Tower, the choice for defence secretary of former president George Bush.· Mr Bush has been careful to balance practical types like his defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, with policy wonks.
► defense· Absent was the fumbling that has accompanied previous Clinton appointments, from attorney-general to defense secretary and surgeon-general.· John Tower, R-Texas, as defense secretary.· Cohen made his comments during his first news conference since becoming defense secretary.· Henry H.. Shelton expressed concern last week to Rumsfeld about the defense secretary s review of the military.· The incoming defense secretary, with Army Gen.· He expected more loyalty, he told his defense secretary heatedly.
► education· Which is not to say that the education secretary should not be attacked.· Alexander, a former education secretary, favors longer school days and a longer school year.· It was the education secretary who insisted on a nationwide literacy and numeracy hour, not the chief inspector.
► health· The former health secretary brushed aside talk of a demotion by referring to himself as the new Minister for Majorism.· William Bennett, a former drug tsar, was a vociferous foe, as is Louis Sullivan, the health secretary.· Despite official denials, William Waldegrave, the health secretary, is unpopular in Downing Street.· The new programme was announced yesterday by health secretary William Waldegrave.
► home· An apparently dangerous criminal may be hospitalised with a restriction stipulating that only the Home secretary can authorise his release.· The home secretary, Kenneth Baker, launched a £4.5m campaign to recruit thousands more special constables.· Punishing the criminal Home secretary Jack Straw has a policy of placing more young offenders in custody.· James Callaghan, the home secretary, said that the idea was absurd and that the Northern Ireland government would dislike it.· While he remained shadow home secretary, that was how matters were destined to remain.· But the shadow home secretary, Ann Widdecombe, said this week that the Tories were responding to people's concerns.· Although it acquired critical mass in the Tory years, no home secretary would listen to it.
► press· John Buckley, once a Kemp press secretary, is director of communications for the Dole campaign.
► state· The function of the parliamentary state secretaries has not yet been clearly established.· Gerald Whitburn, state secretary of health and human services, said a decision on Elias' successor has not been reached.· The example of state secretary Joël in the Reich Justice Ministry was typical.· The only ministers not belonging to the Cabinet are the parliamentary state secretaries.· Ministries send in monthly reports which are annotated and submitted to the Chancellor via the state secretaries.· The head of the Office presides over the informal cabinet of state secretaries - the Ministerialbürokratie - which meets on Monday mornings.· Stavenhagen was replaced by Bernd Schmidbauer, 52, parliamentary state secretary in the Environment Ministry.· Adenauer's ministers in particular had the appearance of Imperial state secretaries.
► treasury· Under a treasury secretary whom Wall Street trusted less, this dancing on the wire could well have ended messily.· This makes the treasury secretary more secure than most of those who buzz around the honey pot of power.· Louis banker and now treasury secretary.
VERB► become· In 1879 the Workhouse Infirmary Nursing Association was founded to train and supply nurses, and she became secretary.· Tedford was a career army man before he became the Luffness New secretary.· A staunch anti-communist, Craxi became party secretary in 1976 after a palace coup.· After some investigation, Stroud said it became pretty clear that secretaries were leaving because they had been outsourced.· He became general secretary in 1982 after serving 17 years as secretary of the Durham branch.· Before becoming trade and commerce secretary, Wright was director of the California Department of Commerce for two years.· He became secretary and presiding genius, but was soon forced out because of his demands.· Secretaries are becoming managers and many managers are becoming secretaries!
► serve· He became general secretary in 1982 after serving 17 years as secretary of the Durham branch.· In the ensuing Parliament he served as a private secretary at the Colonial Office.· Vanreenen relinquished his membership and served as secretary for six years; the Honorable Company prohibits members from working for the club.· She served as its honorary secretary and then as chairman.· Brigham Young became governor of the territory with his two counselors serving as secretary and chief justice.· He coordinated Ernesto Ruffo's historic 1989 campaign and served as his secretary of finance.
► work· Michelle works as a part-time secretary.· Women worked as schoolteachers, secretaries, clerks or telephone operators.· In 1975 she started to work as secretary to Tom Horton, in finance.· Those were the days when men worked as secretaries.· However, if you go to work as a secretary in a consultancy this can often lead to assisting an executive.· She worked as a secretary, and loathed it - but she couldn't decide what she really wanted to do.· She had worked as a secretary before, at the age of 19 years, marrying Mr. O'Brien.
My secretary will fax you all the details.medical/legal secretary2a) (also Secretary of State) the head of an important department in the British government: the Foreign Secretary → Home Secretary b)an official in charge of a large government department in the US: the Secretary of Defense c)a British official who works in a government department or embassy and is below the rank of minister or ambassador: the First Secretary at the British Embassy → Secretary of State, undersecretary3a member of a club or organization who takes notes in meetings, writes official letters etc: the secretary of the tennis club