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

---

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

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said the end of the war was in sight and there are "talks going on".

From BBC

Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, confirmed the abduction of an American journalist, without naming Kittleson.

From BBC

The US secretary of state denied there was a naval blockade around the island.

From BBC

The name change, filed with the Delaware secretary of state’s office, was signed by Blue Owl’s general counsel.

From The Wall Street Journal

He asked the secretary of state to explain why, and Hardy told him she would look into it and get back to him in writing.

From BBC

Related Words

• cabinet minister