| 1. | the head and chief administrator of the U.S. Department of State. Compare foreign minister. |
| 2. | British. any of several ministers in the British government: A new secretary of state for the Home Department has been appointed. |
| 3. | (in the U.S.) the appointed or elected official in a state government whose chief function is to distribute statutes, administer elections, keep archives, etc. |
The head of the United States Department of State and, as leading member of the cabinet, fourth in line of succession to the presidency. The secretary of state is charged with formulating American foreign policy and conducting relations with other nations.