minister

1 of 2

noun

min·​is·​ter ˈmi-nə-stər How to pronounce minister (audio)
1
: agent
the angels are ministers of the divine willH. 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 How to pronounce minister (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to function as a minister of religion
2
: to give aid or service
minister to the sick

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
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.
Noun
At least 11 people have been arrested since video of the incident recently went viral on social media, Balochistan’s chief minister Safraz Bugti said. Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 21 July 2025 The tumult comes days ahead of the finance minister’s mid-year budget review on July 24 — a key moment for the new government that came to office in January, to present its vision for economic growth. Nana Oye Ankrah, semafor.com, 21 July 2025
Verb
Romanelli is an Argentine who has ministered in Gaza for close to 30 years. Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 18 July 2025 The church emerged as a safe haven because Pastor Brutus, who had ministered for 50 years and given refuge to some of the more than 1 million Haitians who have been displaced by the violence, had attained hero status. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for minister

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of minister was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Minister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minister. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

minister

1 of 2 noun
min·​is·​ter ˈmin-ə-stər How to pronounce minister (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on minister

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