ministerial

min·is·te·ri·al

adj \ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl\

Definition of MINISTERIAL

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

— min·is·te·ri·al·ly \-ē-ə-lē\ adverb

Examples of MINISTERIAL

1. She holds a ministerial office.
2. They function in a ministerial capacity in the embassy.

First Known Use of MINISTERIAL

1561

Related to MINISTERIAL

Synonyms: clerkly, clerical, pastoral, priestly, sacerdotal

Antonyms: lay, nonclerical, secular, temporal

Related Words: evangelical (also evangelic), missionary; apostolic, canonical, diaconal, diocesan, episcopal, papal, patriarchal, pontifical; churchly, ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical; divine, holy, religious, sacramental; conventual, mendicant, monachal, monastic; caliphal, rabbinic (or rabbinical)

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with MINISTERIAL

immaterial, magisterial, managerial, presbyterial, raw material