ministerial

adjective min·is·te·ri·al \ ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Examples: ministerial in a Sentence

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

—

ministerially

play \-ē-ə-lē\ adverb

See ministerial defined for English-language learners

See ministerial defined for kids

Examples of ministerial in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of ministerial from the Web

His cabinet has a strong female presence with at least seven ministerial posts going to women.

— maria tadeo, Bloomberg.com, "Spain’s Prime Minister Taps Technocrat Nadia Calvino to Run Economic Policy," 5 June 2018
The departures of Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, and David Davis, the Brexit secretary, this week were only the noisiest revolution of a ministerial carousel that has been spinning since the end of last year (see chart).

— The Economist, "A quiet revolution in Theresa May’s cabinet," 12 July 2018
The end of the Korean War officially, while ministerial in its kind of layout is a big deal here in the region.

— Fox News, "Excitement builds in Singapore over historic meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un," 12 June 2018
Netanyahu's prime ministerial salary is NIS 48,800 ($12,500) a month, before taxes.

— Jewish Journal, "Bill to exempt Israeli prime ministers from certain taxes passes first reading," 26 June 2018
Deputy Attorney General Raz Nazari, who was present at the ministerial meeting, said the bill was legally problematic.

— Fox News, "Israeli bill seeks to ban photographing soldiers," 19 June 2018
The news media turned a harsh glare on Mr. Seehofer, a proud Catholic who has always had a cross on the wall of his ministerial office, but Ms. Merkel stood by him.

— katrin bennhold, New York Times, "German Hard-Liners Want to Close Borders, Threatening Merkel Coalition," 15 June 2018
In a more divided outcome, the president does get to make decisions like which party should get first crack at forming a government, and previous presidents have rejected ministerial candidates without causing national crises.

— jonah shepp, Daily Intelligencer, "Italy’s Political Crisis Is Rattling Europe. Here’s What You Need to Know.," 30 May 2018
According to Madonsela, the Guptas had indeed acted as a shadow government, using cash bribes and promises of ministerial promotions to further their financial interests.

— ed caesar, The New Yorker, "The Reputation-Laundering Firm That Ruined Its Own Reputation," 25 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ministerial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ministerial

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin ministeriālis "serving in an office (manorial or ecclesiastical)," going back to Late Latin, "serving, performing a duty," from Latin ministerium "activity of a servant, ministry" + -ālis ¹-al

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1561

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

ministerial Synonyms

Synonyms

clerical, pastoral, priestly, sacerdotal;

Antonyms

lay, nonclerical, secular, temporal;

apostolic, canonical, diaconal, diocesan, episcopal, papal, patriarchal, pontifical;

churchly, ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical;

divine, holy, religious, sacramental;

conventual, mendicant, monastic;

rabbinic (or rabbinical);

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

MINISTERIAL Defined for English Language Learners

ministerial

adjective

Definition of ministerial for English Language Learners

: of or relating to a government minister

Law Dictionary

ministerial

adjective min·is·te·ri·al \ ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl \

legal Definition of ministerial

1 : being or having the characteristics of an act or duty prescribed by law as part of the duties of an administrative office

2 : relating to or being an act done after ascertaining the existence of a specified state of facts in obedience to legal and especially statutory mandate without exercise of personal judgment or discretion — see also mandamus — compare discretionary

3 : relating to a minister or ministry