ministerial

adjective

min·​is·​te·​ri·​al ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl How to pronounce ministerial (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a minister or the ministry
2
a
: being or having the characteristics of an act or duty prescribed by law as part of the duties of an administrative office
b
: relating to or being an act done after ascertaining the existence of a specified state of facts in obedience to a legal order without exercise of personal judgment or discretion
3
: acting or active as an agent
ministerially adverb

Examples of ministerial in a Sentence

She holds a ministerial office. They function in a ministerial capacity in the embassy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Since the 2020 election, local officials in at least eight states have attempted to use their largely ministerial duty in election certification to delay or deny certification, according to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2024 The news also comes as South Korea’s foreign and defense ministers head to Washington to speak with their counterparts, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, for an annual ministerial meeting. Jessie Yeung, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024 Certification is just the non-discretionary ministerial act of giving an election legal effect. Hady Mawajdeh, Vox, 21 May 2024 Young also serves on the ministerial staff at her home church, Historic Pure Word Missionary Baptist Church. Staff, Detroit Free Press, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ministerial 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin ministeriālis "serving in an office (manorial or ecclesiastical)," going back to Late Latin, "serving, performing a duty," from Latin ministerium "activity of a servant, ministry" + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ministerial was in 1561

Dictionary Entries Near ministerial

Cite this Entry

“Ministerial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ministerial. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ministerial

adjective
min·​is·​te·​ri·​al ˌmin-ə-ˈstir-ē-əl How to pronounce ministerial (audio)
: of or relating to a minister or ministry

Legal Definition

ministerial

adjective
min·​is·​te·​ri·​al ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl How to pronounce ministerial (audio)
1
: being or having the characteristics of an act or duty prescribed by law as part of the duties of an administrative office
2
: relating to or being an act done after ascertaining the existence of a specified state of facts in obedience to legal and especially statutory mandate without exercise of personal judgment or discretion see also mandamus compare discretionary
3
: relating to a minister or ministry

More from Merriam-Webster on ministerial

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