minister
a person authorized to conduct religious worship; member of the clergy; pastor.
a person authorized to administer sacraments, as at Mass.
a person appointed by or under the authority of a sovereign or head of a government to some high office of state, especially to that of head of an administrative department: the minister of finance.
a diplomatic representative accredited by one government to another and ranking next below an ambassador.: Compare envoy1 (def. 1).
a person acting as the agent or instrument of another.
to administer or apply: to minister the last rites.
Archaic. to furnish; supply.
to perform the functions of a religious minister.
to give service, care, or aid; attend, as to wants or necessities.: to minister to the needs of the hungry.
to contribute, as to comfort or happiness.
Origin of minister
1Other words for minister
Other words from minister
- pre·min·is·ter, verb (used without object)
- sub·min·is·ter, noun
- un·der·min·is·ter, noun
- un·min·is·tered, adjective
Words that may be confused with minister
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use minister in a sentence
It was through this work that Bensoussan discovered there was a demand for ministers to perform weddings at jails and prisons.
Cabinet ministers of the day gather to review the names and the allegations.
The Castration of Alan Turing, Britain’s Code-Breaking WWII Hero | Clive Irving | November 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTYup, Evelyn and Donald Knapp are “ordained Christian ministers” suing for the right to discriminate.
Refusing to Marry Same-Sex Couples Isn’t Religious Freedom, It’s Just Discrimination | Sally Kohn | October 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAlthough defense ministers have come and gone, the military command has remained largely unchanged so far, they say.
Thomas noted that the Tuesday coalition meeting was focused on defense ministers from countries.
The proceedings of the day commenced with divine service, performed by Unitarian and Baptist ministers.
At the port of Cavite is a parochial church, which ministers to over three thousand souls.
To meet this heavy expense the ministers had to devise all sorts of expedients to raise money.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonHe seldom got up till late in the day, dictating his letters and receiving his ministers in bed.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonThe need of ministers, which explains why many souls of Indian natives remain to be converted to our holy religion.
British Dictionary definitions for minister
/ (ˈmɪnɪstə) /
(esp in Presbyterian and some Nonconformist Churches) a member of the clergy
a person appointed to head a government department
any diplomatic agent accredited to a foreign government or head of state
short for minister plenipotentiary or envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary: See envoy 1 (def. 1)
Also called (in full): minister resident a diplomat ranking after an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
a person who attends to the needs of others, esp in religious matters
a person who acts as the agent or servant of a person or thing
(intr often foll by to) to attend to the needs (of); take care (of)
(tr) archaic to provide; supply
Origin of minister
1Derived forms of minister
- ministership, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for minister (1 of 2)
In many Protestant churches, the presiding clergyman. Ministers preach sermons; conduct services; officiate at baptisms, weddings, and funerals; and generally look after the needs of their congregation. Some Protestant churches refer to their clergy as pastors or preachers rather than ministers.
A title used in many countries for members of cabinets and similar public officials, who are roughly equivalent to the officials in the United States cabinet. For example, a minister of foreign affairs will have duties similar to those of the secretary of state of the United States.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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