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-suited 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 pains.

—Austin Phelps

5

: the period of service or office of a minister or ministry

Many reforms were enacted during his ministry.

6

often Ministry

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 of ministry

• 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

Fayed al-Noman, the information ministry's assistant undersecretary, said the attack severely damaged port buildings and piers as well as commercial goods and food supplies. — Duarte Dias, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

The Russian foreign ministry has said that at least 797 Russian civilians have been killed so far this year. — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026

Bulgaria's defense ministry said the drone appeared to be the type used by Ukrainian armed forces, and that the incident was likely accidental. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

The Saudi energy ministry earlier said a fire there was extinguished and no one had been injured, without giving any details on the cause. — Sara Gharaibeh, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026

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