minister

1 of 2

noun

min·​is·​ter ˈmi-nə-stər 

1

: agent

the angels are ministers of the divine will

—H. P. Liddon

2

a

: one officiating or assisting the officiant in church worship

b

: a clergyman or clergywoman especially of a Protestant communion

3

a

: the superior (see superior entry 2 sense 1) of one of several religious orders

called also minister-general

b

: the assistant to the rector or the bursar of a Jesuit house

4

: a high officer of state entrusted with the management of a division of governmental activities

the British Minister of Defence

5

a

: a diplomatic representative (such as an ambassador) accredited to the court (see court entry 1 sense 1c) or seat of government of a foreign state

b

: a diplomatic representative ranking below an ambassador

minister

2 of 2

verb

ministered; ministering ˈmi-nə-st(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to function as a minister of religion

2

: to give aid or service

minister to the sick

Synonyms

Noun

• agent
• ambassador
• delegate
• emissary
• envoy
• legate
• representative

Verb

• administer (to)
• care (for)
• mother
• nurse

Examples of minister in a Sentence

Noun

the British ministers at the international peace conference

our minister gives an interesting sermon every week

Verb

volunteered to help minister to the sick at the local hospice

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Like God, who judges from on high, a finance minister has the power to determine who shall thrive and who shall struggle. —Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2024

Graham, a Southern Baptist minister born in Charlotte, North Carolina, initially positioned himself as an advocate for integration, preaching to mixed congregations and championing a colorblind view of the Kingdom of God. —Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2024

Verb

Churches are still forbidden there, and priests must minister in secret. —Edward Pentin, Foreign Affairs, 27 Feb. 2013

For more than a year, religious organizations have lobbied Congress and the Biden administration to fix a sudden procedural change in how the government processes green cards for religious workers, which threatens the ability of thousands of them to continue to minister in the United States. —Giovanna Dell’orto, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ministre "servant, ecclesiastic, priest, official serving a superior, agent," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin minister "servant, ecclesiastic (short for Deī minister "servant of god"), agent, official," going back to Latin, "servant, priest's attendant, agent," formed from minor-, minus "less, lesser" (with the suffix of location and opposition -ter) after magister "manager, master entry 1" — more at minus entry 1

Verb

Middle English ministren, borrowed from Anglo-French ministrer, borrowed from Latin ministrāre "to act as a servant, serve, supply" (Late Latin, "to serve as an ecclesiastic"), derivative of minister "servant, minister entry 1"

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing minister

• foreign minister
• minister plenipotentiary
• minister resident
• minister to
• prime minister
• sub-minister
• super-minister

Kids Definition

minister

1 of 2 noun

min·​is·​ter ˈmin-ə-stər 

1

a

: one who performs religious ceremonies in church services

b

: a member of the clergy of a Protestant church

2

: a high official who heads a department of the government

3

: a government representative in a foreign country

minister

2 of 2 verb

ministered; ministering

-st(ə-)riŋ

: to give aid : serve

minister to the sick

ministration

ˌmin-ə-ˈstrā-shən

noun