secretarial

American  

[sek-ri-tair-ee-uhl] / ˌsɛk rɪˈtɛər i əl /

adjective

1. noting, of, or pertaining to a secretary or a secretary's skills and work.

   a secretarial school.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsecretarial adjective
• subsecretarial adjective
• unsecretarial adjective

Etymology

Origin of secretarial

First recorded in 1795–1805; secretary + -al ¹

Example Sentences

He assembled a research team to gather source documents, and a secretarial squad to which he dictated with a fervor he would make famous in World War II.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

That turned into an offer of secretarial work, and then a far more adventurous gig as an observer.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2025

She left home at 17 to work in the theater, temping at secretarial jobs while studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2025

Trump’s secretarial nominations for the Treasury and Commerce departments were in attendance.

From Slate • Jan. 22, 2025

So, true to her nature, she found an option that was not among the ones presented to her: She took a secretarial course, a typing class.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah