under secretary

or un·der·sec·re·tar·y

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

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.

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

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
And as undersecretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, she has a historic workload.
Hillary's Human Rights Warrior
Dayo Olopade
December 10, 2010

Historical Examples of undersecretary

Was Undersecretary for the Colonies in a late Administration.
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
A. Conan Doyle
The Undersecretary made an answer to one of Simon's remarks.
Cue for Quiet
Thomas L. Sherred
Mr. Undersecretary, who's been doing all the fighting, and who's been starting all these wars?
Cue for Quiet
Thomas L. Sherred
Goulburn was a young man who had served as an undersecretary of state.
Jefferson and his Colleagues
Allen Johnson
John Harris Darby, first undersecretary, was dispatched in his place.
Bear Trap
Alan Edward Nourse

British Dictionary definitions for undersecretary

undersecretary

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 Formsundersecretaryship, 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