German word

Staatssekretär

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃtaːtszekʁeˌtɛːɐ̯/

Meaning

masculine nounparliamentary secretary

Example

Der Staatssekretär vertrat den Minister im Parlament.

The parliamentary secretary represented the minister in Parliament.

Illustration for Staatssekretär (parliamentary secretary)

More examples

Ich habe dem Staatssekretär beim Empfang kurz die Hand gegeben und gegrüßt.

I briefly shook hands with the parliamentary secretary and greeted him at the reception.

Core concept

A minister's high-ranking administrative deputy who can appear and speak for the ministry.

Common phrases

Gruß an den Staatssekretär richten
extend greetings to the parliamentary secretary
auf dem Empfang den Staatssekretär treffen
meet the parliamentary secretary at the reception

Similar words

Minister: The elected or appointed politician responsible for leading a government ministry.
Parlamentarischer Staatssekretär: A political deputy to a minister with parliamentary duties and responsibility for policy matters.
Beamteter Staatssekretär: A long-serving senior official responsible for coordinating a ministry's administrative work.
Beamter: A person employed in the public service of the state or a municipality.

Definition in German

Ein hoher Regierungsbeamter, der den Minister administrativ unterstützt und ihn vertreten kann.

Word origin

The compound Staatssekretär joins Staat, 'state', and Sekretär, 'secretary', preserving the literal idea of a secretary serving the state.

Usage tips

English translations vary with the political system, so parliamentary secretary, permanent secretary, and secretary of state are not always interchangeable.

Other meanings

permanent secretarynoun
secretary of statenoun

Related words

Parlamentarischer Staatssekretärparliamentary state secretarynoun
Staatssekretärinfemale parliamentary secretarynoun