(in the UK) a senior civil servant in charge of one part of a government department compare Permanent Undersecretary(英国)政务次官 (in the UK) a junior minister who works for the minister in charge of a government department (英国)副大臣,次长 (in the US) an official of high rank in a government department, directly below a member of a cabinet (美国)副部长,副国务卿