minister

¹min·is·ter

noun \ˈmi-nə-stər\

: a person whose job involves leading church services, performing religious ceremonies (such as marriages), and providing spiritual or religious guidance to other people : a member of the clergy in some Protestant churches

: an official who heads a government department or a major section of a department in some countries (such as Britain)

: a person who represents his or her own government while living in a foreign country

Full Definition of MINISTER

1

:  agent

2

a :  one officiating or assisting the officiant in church worship

b :  a clergyman especially of a Protestant communion

3

a :  the superior 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

5

a :  a diplomatic representative (as an ambassador) accredited to the court or seat of government of a foreign state

b :  a diplomatic representative ranking below an ambassador

Examples of MINISTER

1. <the British ministers at the international peace conference>
2. <our minister gives an interesting sermon every week>

Origin of MINISTER

Middle English ministre, from Anglo-French, from Latin minister servant; akin to Latin minor smaller

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to MINISTER

Synonyms

agent, delegate, emissary, envoy, legate, ambassador, representative

Antonyms

layman, layperson, secular

Related Words

ambassadress; attaché, chargé d'affaires, consul, deputy, diplomat, foreign minister, nuncio, procurator, proxy; apostle, evangelist, missionary; deputation, detachment, legation; courier, messenger; mouthpiece, spokesperson

Near Antonyms

lay reader, lector

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

²minister

intransitive verb

ministeredminister·ing \-st(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of MINISTER

1

:  to function as a minister of religion

2

:  to give aid or service <minister to the sick>

First Known Use of MINISTER

14th century

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary