- the head and chief administrator of the U.S. Department of State.
- any of several ministers in the British government: A new secretary of state for the Home Department has been appointed.
- (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.
- (in Britain) the head of any of several government departments
- (in the US) the head of the government department in charge of foreign affairs (State Department)
- (in certain US states) an official with various duties, such as keeping records
