ministerial
adjective
min·is·te·ri·al
ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl 
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
Examples of ministerial in a Sentence
She holds a ministerial office.
They function in a ministerial capacity in the embassy.
Recent Examples on the Web
According to Laurie Magnus, the government’s adviser on ministerial standards, her error was not having sought advice from a tax specialist.
—
Sam Knight, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
Kais Saied, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Landau, in Seoul for a Korea-US vice foreign ministerial meeting, said that the 316 South Koreans who returned home Friday on a chartered jet after being detained in Georgia will face no disadvantage when re-entering the US, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
The plaintiffs claim his acts denied access to justice, violated ministerial duties and undermined the public’s trust.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ministerial
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Sam Knight, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
Kais Saied, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Landau, in Seoul for a Korea-US vice foreign ministerial meeting, said that the 316 South Koreans who returned home Friday on a chartered jet after being detained in Georgia will face no disadvantage when re-entering the US, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
The plaintiffs claim his acts denied access to justice, violated ministerial duties and undermined the public’s trust.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ministerial
Cite this Entry
“Ministerial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ministerial. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ministerial
adjective
min·is·te·ri·al
ˌmin-ə-ˈstir-ē-əl
: of or relating to a minister or ministry
Legal Definition
ministerial
adjective
min·is·te·ri·al
ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl
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
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