under secretary

or un·der·sec·re·tar·y

[ uhn-der-sek-ri-ter-ee ]

/ ˈʌn dərˈsɛk rɪˌtɛr i /

noun (often initial capital letters)

an official who is subordinate to a principal secretary, as in the U.S. cabinet: Under Secretary of the Treasury.

Nearby words

under one's nose, under one's own steam, under one's skin, under pain of, under par, under secretary, under someone's spell, under someone's thumb, under someone's wing, under the aegis of, under the circumstances

Origin of under secretary

First recorded in 1680–90

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for undersecretary

He thought he would earn some points with her considering her opposition to him taking the job as undersecretary.
Spy Chief James Clapper: We Can’t Stop Another Snowden|Eli Lake|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dov Zakheim 2003: Undersecretary of Defense as comptroller for the Pentagon.
Few Regrets as Neoconservative Advocates for Iraq Invasion Look Back|Eli Lake|March 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
From 2001 to 2009, Ambassador Dobriansky served as undersecretary of state for democracy and global affairs.
Don't Forget Afghan Women|Paula Dobriansky, Karen Hughes|April 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Previously, Ambassador Hughes served President George W. Bush as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs.
Don't Forget Afghan Women|Paula Dobriansky, Karen Hughes|April 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST

And as undersecretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, she has a historic workload.
Hillary's Human Rights Warrior|Dayo Olopade|December 10, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Was Undersecretary for the Colonies in a late Administration.
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes|A. Conan Doyle
He is now a kind of undersecretary in the office of our secret diplomacy, and a member of the Legion of Honour.
Memoirs of the Court of St. Cloud, Complete|Lewis Goldsmith
"It's the exact timing, and the detail of execution that scares me, Mr. President," the Undersecretary of State was saying.
Prologue to an Analogue|Leigh Richmond
Involuntarily she glanced at the Undersecretary, and her eyes spoke so plainly that he could not avoid taking a decisive step.
The Saint|Antonio Fogazzaro
"Yes, very great," replied the undersecretary, with a warmth which one does not look for in a professional politician.
Nell, of Shorne Mills|Charles Garvice

British Dictionary definitions for undersecretary

undersecretary

/ (ˌʌndəˈsɛkrətrɪ) /

noun plural -taries

(in Britain)

any of various senior civil servants in certain government departments
short for undersecretary of state: any of various high officials subordinate only to the minister in charge of a department

(in the US) a high government official subordinate only to the secretary in charge of a department

Derived Forms

undersecretaryship, noun

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