What does secretariat mean?
A secretariat is the office, department, staff, or governing administrative body that organizes the practical work of an institution, political party, conference, or similar enterprise. Its responsibilities commonly include correspondence, records, scheduling, communication, and coordination between participants. In diplomatic and international organizations, the term can designate a central administrative office with considerable institutional authority, as in the United Nations Secretariat. In event management, a secretariat may instead be a team hired to organize a meeting or conference. The word is usually more specific than “administration”: it suggests an identifiable unit entrusted with organizational responsibilities rather than management in general. It should not be confused with “secretary,” which normally refers to an individual person. Together, these senses make secretariat especially useful for discussing the infrastructure through which formal organizations operate.
nounAn office, department, or body responsible for organizing and conducting the administrative work of an organization or event. It may also refer to the officials who perform this work.
- An office or administrative department responsible for an organization's day-to-day organizational and administrative work.
- The officials or staff who conduct that work.
- A body organized to arrange and manage an event, conference, or series of activities.
"The secretariat arranged the conference and coordinated communications among the participating countries."
"The committee submitted its recommendations to the secretariat."
"A professional secretariat will coordinate the forum's speakers, sponsors, and delegates."
Used when referring to more than one secretariat or administrative body.
"The regional secretariats coordinated the implementation of the policy."
The word secretariat comes from Latin secretum, meaning “something hidden,” a fitting ancestor for an office whose work is often confidential.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does secretariat come from?
The word entered English in the 19th century from French secrétariat, with the stress eventually shifting to the final syllable in the usual British and American pronunciation. Its deeper source is Latin secretarius, meaning “a person entrusted with confidential matters,” derived from secretum, “something secret or hidden.” Related English words include secretary, secretarial, secret, and secretive.
How secretariat is actually used
The term is formal and organizational. In international relations, a capitalised reference such as “the Secretariat” often denotes a particular principal administrative office.
Easily confused with secretariat
A secretary is typically an individual who performs administrative or organizational duties, whereas a secretariat is an office, department, or body that carries out such work.