secretaries

Noun

secretary (plural secretaries)

1. A person who keeps records, takes notes and handles general clerical work.
   • I have a personal secretary to help me organize my clients.
2. (capitalized, often) The head of a department of government.
   • Well briefly, sir, I am the Permanent Under Secretary of State, known as the Permanent Secretary.1980 February 25, Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, “Open Government”, in Yes Minister, season 1, episode 1, spoken by Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne)
3. A managerial or leading position in certain non-profit organizations, such as political parties, trade unions, international organizations.
   • Ban Ki-Moon was a secretary general of the United Nations.
4. (US) A type of desk, secretary desk; a secretaire.
5. A secretary bird, a bird of the species Sagittarius serpentarius.
6. (obsolete, original sense) Someone entrusted with a secret; a confidant.

See all 9 meanings of secretary