secretariat

or sec·re·tar·i·ate

[ sek-ri-tair-ee-uh t ]
/ ˌsɛk rɪˈtɛər i ət /

noun

the officials or office entrusted with administrative duties, maintaining records, and overseeing or performing secretarial duties, especially for an international organization: the secretariat of the United Nations.
a group or department of secretaries.
the place where a secretary transacts business, preserves records, etc.

Origin of secretariat

1805–15; < French secrétariat < Medieval Latin sēcrētāriātus. See secretary, -ate3

Words nearby secretariat

secreta, secretagog, secretagogue, secretaire, secretarial, secretariat, secretary, secretary bird, secretary of defense, secretary of state, secretary-general

Example sentences from the Web for secretariat

British Dictionary definitions for secretariat

secretariat
/ (ˌsɛkrɪˈtɛərɪət) /

noun

  1. an office responsible for the secretarial, clerical, and administrative affairs of a legislative body, executive council, or international organization
  2. the staff of such an office
  3. the building or rooms in which such an office is housed
a body of secretaries
a secretary's place of work; office
the position of a secretary

Word Origin for secretariat

C19: via French from Medieval Latin sēcrētāriātus, from sēcrētārius secretary