under secretary

or un·der·sec·re·tar·y

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

noun

, (often initial capital letters)

1. an official who is subordinate to a principal secretary, as in the U.S. cabinet:

   Under Secretary of the Treasury.

Word History and Origins

Origin of under secretary¹

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

Shashi Tharoor is the chairman of Dubai-based Afras Ventures and former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

From The Daily Beast

In 1873 Admiral Saint-Bon, minister of marine, appointed him under-secretary of state.

From Project Gutenberg

Peel went out of office very soon after he had made Mr. Gladstone Under-secretary for the Colonies.

From Project Gutenberg

He had now been Under-Secretary for two years, and in this Bill his first real chance had come.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Rodney fancied that this was the correct and fashionable title of an under-secretary of state.

From Project Gutenberg

There were a good many persons there, and a foreign minister immediately buttonholed the Under-Secretary of State.

From Project Gutenberg