private secretary

noun

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

private secretary

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of private secretary¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

She was seated next to someone with another important but behind-the-scenes role - private secretary to the King, Sir Clive Alderton.

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The BBC revealed last week that a key aide to Sir Keir, his principal private secretary Nin Pandit, was moving to a policy role in No 10.

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Principal private secretary Nin Pandit runs the prime minister's team at No 10 and has only been in the role for ten months.

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"In terms of public perception," wrote No 10 private secretary Clare Sumner, "the amounts involved are quite large".

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Mr Williams, of Llanfair Caereinion in Welshpool, Powys, was also parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak during his time as prime minister.

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