private secretary

American

noun

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

private secretary British

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of private secretary

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the correspondence, Andrew's private secretary asks for the address where he would have been staying and "confirmation on whether there is room for both his protection officers at the house".

From BBC

On 8 February 2010, the then-Prince Andrew’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk wrote to Epstein on behalf of Ferguson, to invite him to Andrew's 50th birthday party later that month at St James's Palace in London.

From BBC

The Queen Mother's private secretary contacted No 10 to complain, although the files do not explain what caused the offence.

From BBC

He also previously worked in 10 Downing Street as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.

From BBC

Lord Janvrin was the private secretary to the late queen until 2007.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023