/ ˌʌndəˈsekrətri; NAmE ˌʌndərˈsekrəteri/ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
(in Britain) a senior civil servant in charge of one part of a government department
—compare Permanent Undersecretary
2.
(in Britain) a junior minister who reports to the minister in charge of a government department
3.
(in the US) an official of high rank in a government department, directly below a member of a cabinet