ministry

noun

min·is·try | \ ˈmi-nə-strē

plural ministries

Definition of ministry

1 : ministration the ingenuity of destruction … had outrun the ministry of healing— Dixon Wecter

2 : the office, duties, or functions of a minister was well prepared for the ministry

3 : the body of ministers of religion : clergy joined the Presbyterian ministry

4 : a person or thing through which something is accomplished : agency, instrumentality heroic believers become such by the ministry of heroic pain— Austin Phelps

5 : the period of service or office of a minister or ministry Many reforms were enacted during his ministry.

6 often capitalized

a : the body of ministers governing a nation or state from which a smaller cabinet (see cabinet entry 1 sense 3b) is sometimes selected

b : the group of ministers constituting a cabinet

7a : a government department presided over by a minister the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

b : the building in which the business of a ministry is transacted

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about ministry

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Examples of ministry in a Sentence

a member of the ministry She learned a lot during her first year of ministry.

Recent Examples on the Web

Supporters of Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza and the state-run The New Times newspaper posted photos of the opposition leader leaving Nyarugenge prison hours after the justice ministry's announcement. — Ignatius Ssuuna, Fox News, "Rwanda frees opposition leader, 2,100 others from prison," 15 Sep. 2018 Both the ministry's Vasquez and Fallas from the FAO said a lack of clear rules is holding back the spread of rainwater harvesting. — Sebastian Rodriguez, The Christian Science Monitor, "Costa Rica's farmers harvest the rain to counter droughts," 11 May 2018 Crown Point is a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. — Shirley Macfarland, cleveland.com, "Find rare and unusual plants at Crown Point's Organic Plant Sale: Talk of the Towns," 3 May 2018 Congo’s health ministry on Friday said more than 98,000 people have been vaccinated. — Cara Anna, The Seattle Times, "AP Explains: Why 2nd-worst Ebola outbreak is growing concern," 13 Apr. 2019 At least four people were killed, Gaza’s health ministry said Saturday. — Felicia Schwartz, WSJ, "Tens of Thousands Gather at Gaza Border to Mark Protest Anniversary," 30 Mar. 2019 The money will be fully recovered by the end of September, the finance ministry said. — Dara Doyle, Bloomberg.com, "Apple $1.8 Billion Tax Arrears Payment Eases Pressure on Ireland," 18 May 2018 Now, the same day, this is where things get incredibly weird, the same day after looking back in my notes, that Stefan Halper met with me in London the British ministry of foreign affairs invited me to their offices to meet with their diplomats. — Fox News, "Sen. Lindsey Graham: I want Ford to be heard," 18 Sep. 2018 The season of Lent lasts 40 days to represent the amount of time Jesus spent in the desert, fasting and preparing for his ministry. — Woman's Day Staff, Woman's Day, "When Is Lent? Here's Everything You Need to Know," 11 Jan. 2019

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

History and Etymology for ministry

Middle English ministerie, minstri "personal service, religious office, position in a church," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French ministere "service, duty," going back to Old French, borrowed from Latin ministerium "activity of a servant, duty, task, support" (Late Latin, "ecclesiastical service") from minister "servant, minister entry 1" + -ium, denominal suffix of occupations

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