secretary
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A person whose job is to handle administrative and clerical tasks, typically for an organization or individual.
Can refer to an official in charge of a governmental department (e.g., Secretary of State), or a principal officer of a society or organization responsible for records and correspondence. Historically, also a writing desk.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning often hinges on context: from an administrative assistant to a high-ranking government official. The 'governmental' meaning is always capitalized (e.g., the Secretary).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'secretary' is the standard term for the role. In American English, 'administrative assistant' is increasingly common in corporate settings, while 'secretary' remains for government roles. The piece of furniture (secretary desk) is known in both varieties.
Connotations
In AmE, 'secretary' can sometimes carry an outdated or slightly clerical connotation in business, whereas in BrE it remains a standard, neutral job title. In both, as a government title, it connotes high authority.
Frequency
More frequent in BrE for the job title. The government title is equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[secretary] of [organization/department][secretary] to [person][secretary] for [specific area, e.g., defence]act as [secretary]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “secretary of state”
- “secretary bird”
- “on the secretary's desk (figurative: awaiting attention/approval)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to an employee handling correspondence, scheduling, and office organization.
Academic
Often denotes the administrative head of a university department or the elected officer of a scholarly society.
Everyday
Commonly used for school secretaries, club secretaries, or medical secretaries.
Technical
In law, a 'company secretary' is a senior role with legal compliance responsibilities. In ornithology, it's a large bird of prey (secretary bird).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She volunteered to secretary the committee meeting.
- He has been secretarying for the board for years.
American English
- She agreed to secretary the conference sessions.
- The role involves secretarying for the executive team.
adverb
British English
- The work was done secretarially, with great attention to detail. (rare)
- He supported her secretarially during the project. (rare)
American English
- She was trained to work secretarially. (rare)
- The team functions secretarially for the whole department. (rare)
adjective
British English
- She enrolled in a secretarial studies course.
- His secretarial skills were impeccable.
American English
- She took on secretarial duties temporarily.
- The job requires strong secretarial abilities.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The school secretary gave me a form.
- My mum is a secretary.
- Please send your application to the secretary of the club.
- She works as a secretary in a large law firm.
- The press secretary issued a statement to the media.
- He was elected honorary secretary of the historical society.
- The Secretary of the Treasury will be addressing Congress tomorrow.
- Her role transcended that of a mere secretary; she was the de facto office manager.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A SECRET-ary is trusted with confidential (secret) matters and ARRANGES things.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER OF SECRETS / GATEKEEPER (controls access to information and people).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'секретарша' which is informal/potentially derogatory for a female secretary. Use 'секретарь' (gender-neutral job title).
- The government title 'Secretary of State' translates as 'Государственный секретарь' or 'Министр' depending on the country context.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'secratary' or 'secertary'.
- Using 'secretary for' instead of 'secretary to' when referring to a person (e.g., 'secretary to the director', not 'for').
- Omitting the capital 'S' when referring to a specific government Secretary.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'secretary' NOT typically refer to a person?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In American corporate contexts, 'administrative assistant' or 'executive assistant' is often preferred as more professional. 'Secretary' is not inherently offensive but can sound slightly old-fashioned for some entry-level roles. It remains perfectly standard and respectful in British English and for high-level government positions everywhere.
'Secretary to' indicates working for a specific person (e.g., secretary to the CEO). 'Secretary of' indicates responsibility for an organization, department, or field (e.g., Secretary of Defense, secretary of the chess club).
It's thought to be due to the bird's crest of long feathers, which resemble quill pens once carried behind the ears by secretaries (clerks).
In American English, it's pronounced with a clear /t/ sound, not as a flap or a glottal stop. The final syllable has secondary stress: /ˈsɛkrəˌtɛri/ (SEK-ruh-teh-ree).
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