under secretary

or un·der·sec·re·tar·y

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

/ ˈʌn dərˈsɛk rɪˌtɛr i /

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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.

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Origin of under secretary

First recorded in 1680–90

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use under secretary in a sentence

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
“My worry is not over the next six months,” said Dov Zakheim, former undersecretary of Defense in the Bush administration.
World Doubts Obama Will Enforce Red Line on Iran|Josh Rogin|November 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Their solution, Landler wrote: nominate former undersecretary of defense Michele Flournoy for the job.
How the Chuck Hagel Fight Changed the American Jewish Landscape in Washington|J. J. Goldberg|August 20, 2013|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
Then, without a sign of emotion or recognition he went back to staring at the Undersecretary with an intensity almost violent.
Cue for Quiet|Thomas L. Sherred
Was Undersecretary for the Colonies in a late Administration.
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes|A. Conan Doyle
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
I sent his carefully written papers to an undersecretary of the World Congress and forgot the matter.
Greener Than You Think|Ward Moore
The Undersecretary made an answer to one of Simon's remarks.
Cue for Quiet|Thomas L. Sherred

British Dictionary definitions for under secretary

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 of undersecretary

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