ministry

noun

min·​is·​try ˈmi-nə-strē 

plural 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 cabinet entry 1 sense 3b) is sometimes selected

b

: the group of ministers constituting a cabinet

7

a

: 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

• instrumentality
• means
• instrument
• vehicle
• agent
• agency
• organ
• machinery

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

Newsweek has emailed both the Russian defense and foreign ministries for comment. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025

The points can be redeemed to order more advanced drones on a digital marketplace known as Brave1, which Fedorov’s ministry oversees. —Simon Shuster, Time, 24 Sep. 2025

Archaeologists in Israel recently found an ancient treasure hoard dating back more than 1,600 years – not far from where Jesus carried out much of his ministry. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025

Meaning the Lord’s work is never done, and therefore, their job, and their ministry, isn’t over yet, either. —Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ministry

• the ministry

Kids Definition

ministry

noun

min·​is·​try ˈmin-ə-strē 

plural ministries

1

: the action of ministering

2

: the office, duties, or work of a minister

3

a

: the body of ministers governing a nation or state

b

: a government department headed by a minister

c

: the building in which a ministry is housed