min·is·ter
ˈmi-nə-stər 
1
: agent
the angels are ministers of the divine will—
H. P. Liddon
H. P. Liddon2
a
: one officiating or assisting the officiant in church worship
b
: a clergyman or clergywoman especially of a Protestant communion
3
a
: the superior (see superior entry 2 sense 1) of one of several religious orders
called also minister-general
b
: the assistant to the rector or the bursar of a Jesuit house
4
: a high officer of state entrusted with the management of a division of governmental activities
the British Minister of Defence
5
a
: a diplomatic representative (such as an ambassador) accredited to the court (see court entry 1 sense 1c) or seat of government of a foreign state
b
: a diplomatic representative ranking below an ambassador
ministered; ministering
ˈmi-nə-st(ə-)riŋ
1
: to function as a minister of religion
2
: to give aid or service
minister to the sick
Examples of minister in a Sentence
Noun
the British ministers at the international peace conference
our minister gives an interesting sermon every week
Verb
volunteered to help minister to the sick at the local hospice
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Yvette Cooper, the minister responsible for immigration matters in the U.K., has reportedly ordered staff to publish statistics on the nationalities of foreign people convicted of crimes in the U.K., as well as details of the crimes.
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2025
Years later, Schrock was a key confidante as Simpson began ministering at the boys’ ranch.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for minister
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Noun
In 2003, the Cabinet minister Haren Pandya was found dead in his car in Ahmedabad.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Yvette Cooper, the minister responsible for immigration matters in the U.K., has reportedly ordered staff to publish statistics on the nationalities of foreign people convicted of crimes in the U.K., as well as details of the crimes.
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
Most Popular Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88
How often are schools facing speeding drivers?
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2025
Years later, Schrock was a key confidante as Simpson began ministering at the boys’ ranch.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for minister
Cite this Entry
“Minister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minister. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
minister
1 of 2 noun
min·is·ter
ˈmin-ə-stər
1
a
: one who performs religious ceremonies in church services
b
: a member of the clergy of a Protestant church
2
: a high official who heads a department of the government
3
: a government representative in a foreign country
minister
2 of 2 verb
ministered; ministering
-st(ə-)riŋ
: to give aid : serve
minister to the sick
ministration
noun
ˌmin-ə-ˈstrā-shən
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