secondment
secondment Lexical Profile
secondment Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British The temporary transfer of an official, employee, or military officer to another position, department, or organization.
"She gained valuable international experience during a six-month secondment to the company's regional office in Singapore."
A formal expression of support or endorsement for a motion, nomination, or proposal in a deliberative assembly.
"Following the formal secondment of the motion, the committee chair opened the floor for debate."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to a temporary job transfer, 'secondment' is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable (/sɪˈkɒndmənt/), matching the verb 'second' (/sɪˈkɒnd/), rather than the first syllable as in the ordinal number 'second'.
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 19th century from the military verb 'second' (to transfer an officer temporarily to another post), which originated from the French phrase 'en second' (in the second rank or as a supernumerary).