We often overlook the person who takes minutes in a meeting, but they contribute greatly to the smooth running of an organization.
So, if you’re unsure how to describe these noble ink soldiers, you’ve come to just the right place!
Below, you’ll find some great titles for the person who keeps everything on record!
Words for a Person Who Takes Minutes in a Meeting
- Minute-taker
- Stenographer
- Rapporteur
- Notetaker
- Recorder
- Secretary
- Scribe
- Transcriptionist
- Amanuensis
- Stand-in
- Copyist
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A “minute-taker” is the person who writes notes during meetings, especially in a legal setting.
- A “stenographer” attends court sessions to take note of all pleadings and findings.
- A person selected by an organization to attend meetings and draft a report based on the notes they take is called a “rapporteur.”
Keep reading to see a more in-depth discussion of our top three words and phrases for a person who takes minutes in a meeting.
Furthermore, we’ve provided some useful example sentences using each of these phrases.
Minute-taker
In the legal field, the person who takes notes during a meeting is called the “minute-taker.”
According to Law Insider, “minute-taker” means “the person who is responsible for documenting the participants of each meeting, the content of the meeting, and especially the decisions made during the meeting.”
This is a great, straightforward word for someone who jots down all the important points that come up at a board meeting, even outside of the legal arena.
Essentially, the “minute-taker” ensures that there is less likelihood of any misunderstandings or disputes about any agreements made verbally during a meeting.
They also ensure that anyone who was not in attendance can refer to their notes and be kept up to date.
Therefore, let’s see a couple of example sentences making use of this phrase:
We’ll have the minute-taker seated at the head of the table so that they can hear everybody clearly.
I will get in touch with the minute-taker and double-check the content of our discussion from last week Thursday.
Stenographer
“Stenographer” is another title for someone who takes notes. In particular, a “stenographer” is usually the person who takes minutes in court.
Merriam-Webster defines this term as “a person employed chiefly to take and transcribe dictation.”
Generally, a “stenographer” is trained to write and type in shorthand. This ensures that they can jot down everything that is being said very quickly.
Have a look at some example sentences making use of this term:
If Barbara represents the client, they’ll need four or five stenographers to keep up with her babbling.
I will have the stenographer forward their recording to you in full.
Rapporteur
Another word for taking notes in a meeting is “reporting,” and this is often done by a “rapporteur.”
The Cambridge Dictionary defines a “rapporteur” as “someone chosen by an organization to prepare reports of meetings or to investigate and report on a problem.”
Unlike some of the other titles on our list, a “rapporteur” is responsible for more than simply taking notes during board meetings or courtroom discussions.
Generally, a “rapporteur” will take detailed notes during a meeting in order to draft a report on the content of that meeting later on. They will then refer that report back to the organization for inspection.
For example, you may have “rapporteurs” who attend important conventions or meetings of a county’s congress or parliament.
See how we use this phrase in a few examples:
The broad selection of rapporteurs in attendance is rather startling now that the reports have been finalized.
We will plan our next steps after considering the suggestions made by our rapporteur.