Defense secretary and Secretary of defense

Defense secretary

Defense secretary noun - The person who holds the secretaryship of the Defense Department.
Usage example: the first Defense Secretary was James V. Forrestal who was appointed by Truman

Secretary of defense and defense secretary are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Secretary of defense" instead a noun phrase "Defense secretary".

Secretary of defense

Secretary of defense noun - The position of the head of the Department of Defense.

Defense secretary and secretary of defense are semantically related. You can use "Defense secretary" instead a noun phrase "Secretary of defense".

Both terms in one sentence

  • Useful Notes / Yanks with Tanks The Secretary of Defense (acronym: SecDef: often called the "Defense Secretary", or simply "The Secretary" when it’s clear which secretary is meant) is the second most important official for the armed forces after the President.
Cite this Source
Secretary of defense and Defense secretary. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 02, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defense_secretary/secretary_of_defense
Defense secretary & Secretary of defense. N.p., 2016. Web. 02 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defense_secretary/secretary_of_defense>.
Secretary of defense or Defense secretary. 2016. Accessed August 02, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defense_secretary/secretary_of_defense.