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.
Over the next several months, ESA and the five launch companies will negotiate with European governments for funding leading up to ESA's ministerial council meeting in November, when ESA member states will set the agency's budget for at least the next two years. ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025 With ministerial review, the city is not required to gather public input or hold a public hearing. Tyler Faurot, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2025 Russia’s transport minister, who also previously served as governor of the Kursk region ahead of Ukraine’s 2024 incursion, was found dead just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin fired him from his ministerial role. Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025 The Senegal women’s national basketball team cancelled a 10-day training camp in the U.S. from June 22 to July 3 after the U.S. rejected visas for five players, six staff members and a ministerial delegation, the Senegalese Basketball Federation announced in a statement Friday. Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 20 June 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ministerial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ministerial. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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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