A2noun 1K

Secretary

🇬🇧 UK /["/ˈsekrətri/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/ˈsekrəteri/"]/

Meaning of Secretary

a person who works in an office, working for another person, dealing with mail and phone calls, keeping records, arranging meetings with people, etc.

In simple words: A person who helps someone by doing administrative work, like answering phones and organizing files.

Secretary in a sentence

• The secretary organized all the files for the meeting.
• She works as a secretary at a law firm.
• The secretary relayed the important messages to the team.
• As secretary of the club, he was in charge of member registrations.
• In some organizations, the secretary may also take on administrative duties.

How to use Secretary

The term is widely used in both business and personal contexts. It's more formal in a professional environment, while it can feel outdated when referring to women in office roles. Be mindful of context when using this term.

Grammar pattern

noun + of + person (e.g. secretary of a company)

Memory hint

Think of a 'secre-tary' who keeps secrets safe in a tidy office!

Related words

Collocations with Secretary

• executive
• legal
• medical
• chief
• first
• assistant
• resign as
• elect
• elect somebody
• General
• secretary to
• the post of secretary
• deputy
• assistant
• acting
• resign as
• replace (somebody as)
• secretary for
• secretary of
• Secretary of State
• permanent
• former
• cabinet
• secretary to
• Secretary of State

Synonyms for Secretary

• administrative assistant
• executive assistant
• office manager
• clerk

Opposites of Secretary

• chief
• manager
• director

Common mistakes with Secretary

• Confusing with 'admin' which is more informal.
• Using 'secretary' to refer to administrative roles that are gender-neutral.
• Assuming all secretaries have the same duties, which can vary greatly.

Frequently asked questions about Secretary

What does Secretary mean?

A person who helps someone by doing administrative work, like answering phones and organizing files.

What is the definition of Secretary?

a person who works in an office, working for another person, dealing with mail and phone calls, keeping records, arranging meetings with people, etc.

How do you use Secretary in a sentence?

The secretary organized all the files for the meeting.

Can you give another example of Secretary?

She works as a secretary at a law firm.

What are synonyms for Secretary?

Common alternatives include administrative assistant, executive assistant, office manager, clerk.

What is the opposite of Secretary?

Opposite meanings include chief, manager, director.

What words go with Secretary?

It commonly pairs with executive, legal, medical, chief, first, assistant, resign as, elect, elect somebody, General, secretary to, the post of secretary, deputy, assistant, acting, resign as, replace (somebody as), secretary for, secretary of, Secretary of State, permanent, former, cabinet, secretary to, Secretary of State.

What are common mistakes when using Secretary?

Confusing with 'admin' which is more informal. Using 'secretary' to refer to administrative roles that are gender-neutral. Assuming all secretaries have the same duties, which can vary greatly.

How do you pronounce Secretary?

US: /["/ˈsekrəteri/"]/, UK: /["/ˈsekrətri/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Secretary?

The term is widely used in both business and personal contexts. It's more formal in a professional environment, while it can feel outdated when referring to women in office roles. Be mindful of context when using this term.

What CEFR level is Secretary?

"Secretary" is at A2 level on the CEFR scale.