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 clergyperson 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 of minister

Noun

• ambassador
• envoy
• delegate
• representative

Verb

• administer (to)
• nurse
• mother
• see to
• treat

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

Firudin Gurbanov, Azerbaijan’s deputy minister of education, forms part of Sabah’s board, which is headed by real estate magnate Yagub Huseynov. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

As trade talks with Canada remain on ice, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is set to travel to Mexico on Wednesday, according to Mexico’s trade minister. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026

Verb

The priests immediately started ministering on the streets and to the firefighters working tirelessly on the ground. — Ashley Grams, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Parishoners there had petitioned the diocese for a Spanish-language Mass, and Doub — who had previously ministered in Mexico and later left the priesthood — was appointed to do that at Most Holy Trinity. — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 23 May 2026

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

Rhymes for minister

• sinister
• administer

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