secretary of state

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

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

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of secretary of state¹

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

Ian Murray has expressed his disappointment at losing his job as secretary of state for Scotland.

From BBC

She pushed back and was appointed shadow first secretary of state among other titles.

From BBC

Lord Murphy, a former secretary of state, led the review, which was commissioned by the government after a Stormont vote to continue with the measures passed last year.

From BBC

As secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Rayner is responsible for council tax and housing policy.

From BBC

Padilla continued his steady climb through the state’s political ranks in the decades that followed, serving in the state Senate and as California secretary of state.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cabinet minister