The clearest term for someone who takes minutes in a meeting is minute-taker. In more formal organizations, the role may be called the meeting secretary or simply secretary. Terms such as note-taker and recorder are broader because the notes may not be formal minutes.
Which Meeting Role Is the Best Fit?
- Exact role: Minute-taker
- Formal committee: Meeting secretary
- General notes: Note-taker
- Recording proceedings: Recorder
- Conference summary: Rapporteur
Minute-taker
The most direct and unambiguous term for the person responsible for producing meeting minutes.
Example: “Alex will be the minute-taker for today’s committee meeting.”
Meeting secretary
A formal role that often includes preparing agendas, recording minutes, and handling meeting administration.
Example: “The meeting secretary circulated the approved minutes.”
Secretary
Common in committees and boards, though the role may include duties well beyond taking minutes.
Example: “The secretary recorded the decisions and action points.”
Recorder
A broad term for someone who records proceedings, decisions, or key points.
Example: “Each working group appointed a recorder for the discussion.”
Note-taker
Useful when the person is taking notes but not necessarily preparing formal approved minutes.
Example: “Could someone volunteer as note-taker for the workshop?”
Scribe
An informal or facilitation term for someone who writes down ideas, decisions, or discussion points.
Example: “Sam acted as scribe while the group brainstormed.”
Clerk
Used in some formal, public, legal, or governance settings for an official who records proceedings.
Example: “The clerk recorded the motion and the result of the vote.”
Rapporteur
A formal term, common in conferences and international settings, for someone who reports or summarizes proceedings rather than necessarily producing conventional minutes.
Example: “The rapporteur presented a summary of the panel discussion.”
Minute-Taker and Note-Taker Are Not Identical
A minute-taker is responsible for the official meeting record. A note-taker may simply capture useful notes for themselves or the group, without producing formal minutes.
The Best Default
If you mean the person whose job in the meeting is specifically to produce the minutes, use minute-taker.