What does secretarial mean?
Secretarial is an adjective meaning connected with the work of a secretary, especially administrative duties such as correspondence, record-keeping, scheduling, and office organization. It is common in employment descriptions and in references to secretarial skills, duties, staff, and positions. The word is used in British and American English, although the precise role associated with it may vary by office and era. It can also refer more broadly to the administrative profession associated with secretarial work. Secretarial is related to secretary and secretariat but is distinct from secret: it concerns the business of office administration rather than concealment or confidentiality. In modern workplaces, the term often overlaps with administrative or clerical work, while remaining recognizable as a description of traditional office-support roles.
adjectiveRelating to the work, duties, or skills of a secretary or to the office and profession of secretarial work.
- Relating to the work or duties of a secretary.
- Relating to the profession, office, or administrative organization of secretarial work.
"She applied for a secretarial position at the university."
"Her secretarial duties included answering phones and maintaining the office calendar."
"The course provides training in secretarial skills and office administration."
Secretarial work is often described as clerical, but the role can involve much more than typing: it is the administrative backbone of many offices.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of secretarial
The word derives through French secrétariat, from the Latin secretarium, a place for keeping secrets or a private official chamber. The underlying idea comes from Latin secretus, meaning hidden or private. In English, secretarial developed through the influence of the related forms secretary and secretariat, with its modern sense referring to professional administrative work.
Related word forms
How secretarial is actually used
Generally neutral and formal. It can describe a job, duties, skills, staff, or work connected with secretarial administration.
Easily confused with secretarial
Secretarial means relating to administrative or office work, whereas secret means hidden or confidential.