secretary of state
B2Formal, official, political
Definition
Meaning
A senior government official with major responsibilities in foreign affairs and international relations.
A title for a high-ranking minister in a government, often but not always responsible for foreign policy, or a senior corporate officer responsible for legal compliance and records in the UK. In the US, it is exclusively a government title.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Capitalized when used as a specific title (e.g., the Secretary of State). The role's specific portfolio can vary significantly by country; in the UK, it is used for many cabinet ministers (e.g., Secretary of State for Defence), while in the US it refers specifically to the head of the State Department.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Secretary of State' is a generic title for many senior cabinet ministers (e.g., Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary). In the US, it refers specifically to the head of the Department of State (foreign affairs). The UK also uses the term for a senior corporate officer.
Connotations
UK: Broad governmental authority. US: Singular focus on foreign policy and diplomacy.
Frequency
High frequency in political/news contexts in both regions, but refers to a wider range of officials in the UK.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The Secretary of State for [Domain] (UK)The Secretary of State [Verb] that...under the Secretary of StateVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A phone call from the Secretary of State”
- “In the Secretary of State's good books”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In UK business, a company secretary of state ensures legal compliance (a different role).
Academic
Studied in political science, international relations, and comparative government.
Everyday
Used when discussing news about politics or foreign policy.
Technical
A formal constitutional or corporate title with defined legal powers and responsibilities.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- secretary-of-state-level talks
American English
- a Secretary-of-State-nominee
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Secretary of State is an important job.
- The Secretary of State gave a speech about peace.
- The new Secretary of State for Education announced reforms to the national curriculum.
- Critics argued that the Secretary of State's nuanced diplomacy failed to deter the escalating regional aggression.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'state' as the nation. The Secretary of State is the chief secretary *for* the nation's dealings with other nations.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE NATION IS A BUSINESS; THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS THE HEAD OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'секретарь штата' (secretary of a US state). The correct equivalent is 'госсекретарь' (for US) or 'министр иностранных дел'/'госсекретарь Великобритании' (for UK).
Common Mistakes
- Using lowercase for the full title. Confusing the US and UK roles. Pronouncing 'secretary' as four syllables (/sek-ri-tair-ee/) in careful speech instead of the common three (/sek-ruh-tree/).
Practice
Quiz
In the UK political system, which of the following is a Secretary of State?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Functionally, yes, they are the primary ministers for foreign affairs. However, 'Foreign Secretary' is the specific UK title for that role, while other UK ministers also hold the 'Secretary of State' title.
In the UK and some Commonwealth countries, yes. A company secretary is a senior officer with legal responsibilities. In the US, this corporate role is not called 'Secretary of State'; that term is reserved for a state government official or the federal role.
In fast, natural speech, it's often three syllables: /ˈsek.rə.tri/. In more careful speech, particularly in American English, it can be four: /ˈsek.rə.ter.i/.
It is a historic title denoting a senior minister in charge of a major government department (a 'State Department' in the old sense). The UK system uses it as the standard title for most cabinet ministers heading departments.
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