secretary
- 01 A2 Elementary
a person who works in an office, answers phones, and organizes meetings.
an employee who performs clerical and administrative tasks, such as managing correspondence and scheduling appointments.
Simple“The school secretary helped the new student find her classroom.”
In context“The legal secretary spent the afternoon drafting contracts and coordinating the senior partner's travel arrangements for the upcoming conference.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a very senior official who is the head of a government department.
the head of a major government department or ministry, often reporting directly to a president or prime minister.
Simple“The Secretary of State met with leaders from other countries.”
In context“The newly appointed Education Secretary announced a series of reforms aimed at improving literacy rates in rural primary schools.”
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
a person in charge of the daily business of a club or organization.
an official in a non-profit organization, trade union, or political party responsible for administrative leadership.
Simple“He was elected as the secretary of the local tennis club.”
In context“As the general secretary of the trade union, she was responsible for leading the negotiations during the industrial dispute.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
a tall piece of furniture used for writing that often has a folding top.
a writing desk with a top section for books and a hinged surface that folds down for writing.
Simple“She kept her old letters in the drawers of the antique secretary.”
In context“The mahogany secretary stood in the corner of the library, its intricate carvings reflecting the craftsmanship of the eighteenth century.”
Synonymssecretairewriting desk
Usage secretary of state · secretary general
From Medieval Latin secrētārius (“one entrusted with secrets”), from Latin secrētus (“private, secret”), past participle of secernere (“to separate, set apart”), from se- (“apart”) + cernere (“to separate”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.