secretary

noun

A person who keeps records, takes notes and handles general clerical work.

(often capitalized) The head of a department of government.

A managerial or leading position in certain non-profit organizations, such as political parties, trade unions, international organizations.

A secretary bird, a bird of the species Sagittarius serpentarius.

(US) A type of desk, secretary desk; a secretaire.

A town in Maryland.

(original sense, now obsolete) Someone entrusted with a secret; a confidant.

(obsolete) Someone employed as a scribe for personal correspondence.

verb

(transitive) To serve as a secretary of.

Roots

cernocret- · Latin · separate, sift, discern

Synonyms & related words for secretary

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Words related to secretary

Explore words related to secretary — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include escritoire, undersecretary, secretaryship, deputy, secretarial, treasurer, chairman, minister. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does secretary come from?

The word secretary breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root cret-, from Latin cerno (“separate, sift, discern”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.