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

Ecuador set to attack crime groups QUITO, Ecuador -- Ecuador will launch a major offensive against criminal organizations in three western provinces this weekend with logistical support from the United States, the interior minister said Wednesday. —Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Denmark's energy minister urged citizens of the Scandinavian country to cut back on energy use and ditch cars as the price of oil continues to skyrocket amid the Middle East conflict. —Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026

Verb

The region’s Catholic institutions responded to last year’s aggressive raids with an outpouring of charity, reorganizing many food pantries around grocery delivery and ministering directly to communities many described as under siege. —Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Tobin, who ministered in more than 70 countries as a Redemptorist priest and the order’s superior general, lamented the retreat in USAID assistance, saying U.S. philanthropy makes a big difference in everything from hunger to health. —Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 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