Definition of ministry
ministries
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 1cabinet 3b) is sometimes selectedb : the group of ministers constituting a cabinet
7a : a government department presided over by a minister the Ministry of Foreign Affairsb : the building in which the business of a ministry is transacted
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of ministry in a Sentence
a member of the ministry
She learned a lot during her first year of ministry.
First Known Use of ministry
14th century
Other Christian Religious Terms
MINISTRY Defined for English Language Learners
ministry
playDefinition of ministry for English Language Learners
-
the ministry : religious leaders as a group : ministers as a group
-
: the office, duties, or work of a religious minister
-
: a government department or the building in which it is located
MINISTRY Defined for Kids
Learn More about ministry
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ministry Spanish Central: Translation of ministry Nglish: Translation of ministry for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ministry for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ministry
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up ministry? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!