Secretary: meaning, definitions and examples

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secretary

[ ˈsɛkrəˌtɛri ]

^{Context #1}

office work

A secretary is a person who is employed in an office to assist with correspondence, keep records, make appointments, and carry out similar tasks.

Synonyms

assistant, clerk, receptionist

Examples of usage

The secretary scheduled all the meetings for the CEO.
She works as a secretary in a law firm.
Being a secretary requires good organizational skills.

^{Context #2}

government

A secretary is the head of a government department.

Synonyms

chief, director, minister

Examples of usage

The Secretary of State is an important official in the US government.
The Secretary of Defense oversees the military department.

Translations

Translations of the word "secretary" in other languages:

🇵🇹 secretário

🇮🇳 सचिव

🇩🇪 Sekretär

🇮🇩 sekretaris

🇺🇦 секретар

🇵🇱 sekretarz

🇯🇵 秘書 (ひしょ)

🇫🇷 secrétaire

🇪🇸 secretario

🇹🇷 sekreter

🇰🇷 비서

🇸🇦 سكرتير

🇨🇿 tajemník

🇸🇰 tajomník

🇨🇳 秘书 (mìshū)

🇸🇮 tajnik

🇮🇸 ritari

🇰🇿 хатшы

🇬🇪 მდივანი

🇦🇿 katib

🇲🇽 secretario

Word origin

The word 'secretary' originated from the Latin word 'secretarius', which means 'confidential officer or attendant'. In the 14th century, it referred to a person entrusted with secrets or confidences. Over time, the role of a secretary evolved to include administrative and clerical duties in various fields.