Origin: Latin suffix -ary
Secretary has 7 different meanings across 2 categories:
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
"The new secretary for the Treasury Department announced a surprise tax reform plan yesterday."
an assistant who handles correspondence and clerical work for a boss or an organization
"The secretary spent her morning organizing the CEO's inbox before heading to the afternoon meetings."
a person to whom a secret is entrusted
"She felt betrayed when her longtime friend, who had been trusted as her secretary for years, told everyone about their plan to quit."
a desk used for writing
"The antique secretary sat tucked into the corner of her study, its slanted top perfect for drafting letters by candlelight."
Someone entrusted with a secret; a confidant.
"After years of serving as his closest secretary, she knew every private detail of his life before he even told anyone else."
In plain English: A secretary is someone who helps an office worker by managing their schedule, answering calls, and handling paperwork.
"The secretary organized all the meeting notes for the morning conference."
To serve as a secretary of.
"She was elected to serve as secretary of the local historical society during the annual meeting."
In plain English: To be a secretary means to write down information for someone else.
"The company decided to keep its new product launch a secret until the official announcement."
Usage: Use this verb to describe someone officially serving in an administrative or clerical role, such as acting as the secretary for a club meeting. It is distinct from using the noun form when referring to the person holding that title rather than performing the duties themselves.
A town in Maryland.
"Many residents of Secretary, Maryland, gather at the local fair every autumn to celebrate their small community's heritage."
The word secretary comes from Medieval Latin secrētārius, meaning "one entrusted with secrets." It entered English through the idea of a person who was kept apart or set aside to handle confidential matters.