secretary of state

or Secretary of State

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See synonyms for secretary of state on Thesaurus.com

noun

the head and chief administrator of the U.S. Department of State.Compare foreign minister.

British. any of several ministers in the British government: A new secretary of state for the Home Department has been appointed.

(in the U.S.) the appointed or elected official in a state government whose chief function is to distribute statutes, administer elections, keep archives, etc.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of secretary of state

First recorded in 1610–20

Words nearby secretary of state

secretariat, secretary, secretary bird, secretary-general, secretary of defense, secretary of state, secret ballot, secrete, secret history, secretin, secretion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use secretary of state in a sentence

Dental leaders barnstormed the state, and cities began to fluoridate.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
But on Thursday Boxer triggered a Golden State political earthquake, announcing that she would not seek a fifth term in 2016.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile, in Florida, Bush was flooded with questions about whether gay marriage could possibly come to the Sunshine State.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This week, Florida became the 36th state to allow same-sex marriage.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

But if you have a hearing and you prove that someone is mature enough, well then that state interest evaporates.
Should Teens Have The Right To Die?|Brandy Zadrozny|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If we can free this State of Yankees, we will accomplish more than your armies down south have.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
He desired his secretary to go to the devil, but, thinking better of it, he recalled him as he reached the door.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Walls End Castle, when the party broke up, returned to its normal state.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
The next morning he came rushing into the office, in a violent state of excitement.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
He could not tell what I meant by secrets of state, where an enemy or some rival nation were not in the case.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift

British Dictionary definitions for secretary of state

secretary of state

noun

(in Britain) the head of any of several government departments

(in the US) the head of the government department in charge of foreign affairs (State Department)

(in certain US states) an official with various duties, such as keeping records

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for secretary of state

secretary of state

The head of the United States Department of State and, as leading member of the cabinet, fourth in line of succession to the presidency. The secretary of state is charged with formulating American foreign policy and conducting relations with other nations.

secretary of state

or Secretary of State

Origin of secretary of state

Words nearby secretary of state

Words related to secretary of state

How to use secretary of state in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for secretary of state

Cultural definitions for secretary of state