private secretary

American  

noun

1. a person who attends to the individual or confidential correspondence, files, etc., of a business executive, official, or the like.

---

private secretary British  

noun

1. a secretary entrusted with the personal and confidential matters of a business executive

2. a civil servant who acts as aide to a minister or senior government official Compare parliamentary private secretary

---

Etymology

Origin of private secretary

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

private secretary

Flights for Swinney and his private secretary John Webster cost £17,893 each.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

According to notes recorded by John Coles, Thatcher's private secretary, Reagan's view and that of the president of Brazil was that "the best chance for peace was before complete Argentine humiliation".

From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026

Lewis, Jefferson’s private secretary, had grown up a rambler and a keen observer of the natural world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

The Queen Mother's private secretary contacted No 10 to complain, although the files do not explain what caused the offence.

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025

"I was private secretary to the president of Schultz Sausages. Poor Mr. Schultz, I don't know how he'll manage without me."

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin