Definition

Noun: 1. The chief administrative officer of a large organization, especially an international body: This person holds the highest-ranking administrative position, overseeing the organization's operations, staff, and implementation of policies set by a governing council or assembly. The role often involves significant diplomatic, managerial, and public representation duties.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The Secretary-General of the United Nations addressed the General Assembly on the climate crisis.
  • The organization's board appointed a new secretary-general to manage its expanding global operations.
  • As secretary-general of the union, her primary duty is to execute the decisions made by the elected committee.

Advanced Usage

• The title is often capitalized (Secretary-General) when it refers to the specific, formal title of a person leading a major international organization (e.g., the UN, NATO, the Commonwealth).
• When used in a more generic sense for the head of other large unions, associations, or political parties, it is often written in lowercase (secretary-general).

Variants and Related Words

• Secretary-Generalship (n): The office, term, or authority of a secretary-general.
  • His secretary-generalship was marked by significant institutional reform.

Synonyms

• Chief Administrator
• Executive Director
• Head of Secretariat

Notes on Different Meanings

• This term is a compound noun. Its meaning is specific and should not be confused with a secretary (an assistant or clerical worker) or a general (a military rank). The hyphen links the two concepts to create a distinct title for a top executive officer.

Noun

1. a person who is a chief administrator (as of the United Nations)