secretary

Everyday

1. A secretary is a person whose job is to help in an office by typing letters, answering the phone, keeping records and arranging meetings. tree →
2. The school secretary works in the school office and deals with visitors, absences, lunch money and phone calls. tree →
3. A Secretary (in government) is the head of a government department, such as the Home Secretary (UK) or the Secretary of State (USA). tree →
4. The secretary of a club writes down what happens at meetings. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday school life the school secretary is who you see when you arrive late or feel ill. In news and citizenship lessons, «Secretary» names top government ministers. Phrases: «school secretary», «Home Secretary», «Foreign Secretary», «Secretary of State», «club secretary».

Examples

• The school secretary phoned my mum when I felt sick. tree →
• Hand your letter to the secretary in the office. tree →
• The Home Secretary spoke on the news. tree →
• My aunt is a secretary at a law firm. tree →
• Our club voted Maya as secretary. tree →
• The secretary wrote down what was said at the meeting. tree →
• The Secretary of State visited Canada. tree →

Note

Plural: secretaries (y → ies). Pronounced SEK-re-tree (UK) or SEK-re-tair-ee (USA). Note the second r: secRetary. Capital S in government titles.