secretary of state

American  

Or Secretary of State

noun

1. the head and chief administrator of the U.S. Department of State.

2. British. any of several ministers in the British government.

   A new secretary of state for the Home Department has been appointed.

3. (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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secretary of state British  

noun

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

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

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

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secretary of state Cultural  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of secretary of state

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

This would give the government greater powers to oversee acquisitions and mergers, with the secretary of state able to intervene if a deal threatens the public interest.

From BBC

“We are aware that China conducted a nuclear explosive test,” said Christopher Yeaw, an assistant secretary of state.

From The Wall Street Journal

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, a former secretary of state, also shared tributes, saying they were friends with Jackson for "almost fifty years".

From BBC

"Get the files out. They are slow-walking it," the former US secretary of state told the BBC in Berlin, where she attended the annual World Forum.

From BBC

Jeremy Carl, the president’s pick for assistant secretary of state for international organizations, is set to appear Thursday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

From Salon

Related Words

• cabinet minister