secretariat

UK: /ˌsɛkrəˈtɛəriæt/ US: /ˌsɛkrɪˈtɛriət/ ,(sek′ri târ′ē ət)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

sec•re•tar•i•at /ˌsɛkrɪˈtɛriət/   n. [countable]

1. Government the office or the officials with administrative duties, maintaining records, etc.:
   the secretariat of the United Nations.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sec•re•tar•i•at  (sek′ri târ′ē ət), n. 

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

Also, sec′re•tar′i•ate. 

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

secretariat, secretariate / 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. a body of secretaries
4. a secretary's place of work; office
5. the position of a secretary

Etymology: 19th Century: via French from Medieval Latin sēcrētāriātus, from sēcrētārius secretary