an office responsible for the secretarial, clerical, and administrative affairs of a legislative body, executive council, or international organization
b.
the staff of such an office
c.
the building or rooms in which such an office is housed
2.
a body of secretaries
3.
a secretary's place of work; office
4.
the position of a secretary
Word origin
C19: via French from Medieval Latin sēcrētāriātus, from sēcrētāriussecretary