What does secretaryship mean?
A secretaryship is the formal office or position of a secretary, especially in a political body, committee, society, or other organization. The term may refer either to the role itself or to the period during which a particular person holds it. Unlike the shorter word “secretary,” which names the person occupying the position, a secretaryship names the office, appointment, or span of service. It is mainly used in formal and historical writing and is especially associated with bodies that have a secretary as an official officer. Expressions such as “hold the secretaryship” and “during his secretaryship” emphasize the institutional office or the tenure associated with it. Although modern organizations may simply describe the role as “the secretary,” the fuller term remains useful in legal, political, and archival contexts because it clearly identifies the nature of the position.
nounThe office or position of a secretary, especially within an organization, government, or political body. It can also refer to the period during which someone holds that position.
- The office or position of a secretary.
- The period during which a person serves as secretary.
"She accepted the secretaryship of the local historical society."
"His secretaryship brought him into regular contact with the committee's senior members."
"The association advertised the secretaryship as a voluntary, part-time role."
Plural when referring to multiple offices, positions, or periods of service.
"Several early secretaryships were held by women working within the reform movement."
A secretaryship names the office; a secretary is the person who occupies it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of secretaryship
Secretaryship is formed by combining “secretary” with the established English suffix “-ship,” which forms nouns denoting an office, status, or condition. “Secretary” comes through Old French from Latin secretarius, meaning a person entrusted with secrets; that Latin word was based on secretum, “something concealed” or “a secret.” The resulting compound therefore literally designates the state or position of being secretary.
Related word forms
How secretaryship is actually used
The word is formal and is most often used in administrative, institutional, political, or historical contexts. It sounds more traditional than simply 'secretary's job' and is now less common in everyday speech.
Easily confused with secretaryship
A secretary is the person who performs or holds a secretarial role, whereas a secretaryship is the office or position itself.
A secretariat is an organization or office that administers an institution or handles its formal administrative work, whereas a secretaryship is an individual secretary's post.