private secretary

noun

1. a person who attends to the individual or confidential correspondence, files, etc., of a business executive, official, or the like.

private secretary

noun

1. a secretary entrusted with the personal and confidential matters of a business executive
2. See parliamentary private secretary
   a civil servant who acts as aide to a minister or senior government official Compare parliamentary private secretary

Word History and Origins

Origin of private secretary¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

They did not regularly speak in the morning — it was their private secretaries who coordinated their schedules.

From Time

He now worked for the Presidential General Staff, and his brother Alberto was the private secretary to President Mateos.

From MIT Technology Review

William's private secretary noted, "As everyone probably knows, however, the duke and duchess are just a little competitive."

From The Daily Beast

At 10 a.m. her private secretary will arrive to discuss correspondence and state papers.

From The Daily Beast

Probably his Private Secretary, considering you a new man, will have failed to furnish the necessary information.

From Project Gutenberg

And here let me point out for your future guidance the importance of having a private secretary thoroughly up to his work.

From Project Gutenberg

But the particular Private Secretary of your answerer being not up to his work you get snubbed.

From Project Gutenberg

Then I'll take you to Sacramento with me next year—I'm a senator this term—as my private secretary, and you'll learn a lot.

From Project Gutenberg

You are a kind of private secretary to the whole family, then; but you work at the law at the same time?

From Project Gutenberg