# sec

/ˈsɛk/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sec
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a short time

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a very short period of time; a quick way to say 'second'.

For teachers: a clipping of 'second' used to denote a brief, often indeterminate, interval of time.

- Wait just a sec while I grab my coat from the hallway.
- The system took a sec to process the request, but the confirmation appeared on the screen shortly thereafter.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'hang on a sec' or 'just a sec'.

### 2. government official

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a short way to write or say 'secretary', often used for high-level government leaders.

For teachers: a clipping of 'secretary', typically referring to a cabinet-level official or the head of a department.

- The Home Sec is expected to make an announcement later today.
- The former Foreign Sec addressed the committee regarding the diplomatic implications of the new trade agreement.

Teaching tip: This is particularly common in British news headlines to save space.

## Examples

- Wait a sec while I grab my keys.
- I will be with you in a sec; I just need to finish this email.
- The technician asked the manager to hold on for a sec while he checked the server logs for any unusual activity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.