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Synonyms

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.

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

"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
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.

Etymology

Origin of secretary of state

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The secretary of state became the administration’s main conduit to Rodríguez as the U.S. worked to establish an open line to Caracas in the raid’s chaotic aftermath.

From The Wall Street Journal

During his 14 years as senator, Rubio was generally well-liked by his colleagues, who unanimously confirmed him as secretary of state -- a rarity in such polarized times.

From Barron's

Under Assembly Bill 501, the secretary of state’s office would be required to notify individuals within 21 days if they are named as a debtor in a lien filing.

From Los Angeles Times

As we gear up for the mega-election here in Michigan — the governorship, the secretary of state, every statehouse seat, an open U.S.

From Salon

The secretary of state also told CBS that if Venezuela doesn't "make the right decisions", the US "will retain multiple levers of leverage to ensure that our interests are protected".

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.