ministerial

[min-uh-steer-ee-uhl]

adjective

1. pertaining to the ministry of religion, or to a minister or other member of the clergy.

2. pertaining to a ministry or minister of state.

3. pertaining to or invested with delegated executive authority.

4. of ministry or service.

5. serving as an instrument or means; instrumental.

ministerial

/ ˌmɪnɪˈstɪərɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a minister of religion or his office

2. of or relating to a government minister or ministry

   a ministerial act

3. (often capital) of or supporting the ministry or government against the opposition

4. law relating to or possessing delegated executive authority

5. law (of an office, duty, etc) requiring the following of instructions, without power to exercise any personal discretion in doing so

6. acting as an agent or cause; instrumental

Other Word Forms

• ministerially adverb
• antiministerial adjective
• antiministerially adverb
• interministerial adjective
• nonministerial adjective
• nonministerially adverb
• pseudoministerial adjective
• quasi-ministerial adjective
• semiministerial adjective
• unministerial adjective
• unministerially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ministerial¹

1555–65; < Late Latin ministeriālis, equivalent to Latin ministeri ( um ) ministry + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who previously employed Mr Cash as a parliamentary researcher, said it was "inexplicable" that the trial would have collapsed "without either ministerial or national security advisor or executive involvement".

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Fracking is currently only limited by a suspension on ministerial decisions to grant licences.

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Ross asked for a formal investigation on whether Hepburn breached the ministerial code, saying his behaviour had fallen "well below the standards" for ministers.

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Ross has now written to John Swinney asking for a formal investigation about whether Hepburn breached the ministerial code, saying the behaviour "falls well below the standards set out" for ministers.

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Johnstone added that ministers also have to adhere to the Scottish ministerial code.

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Related Words

• consular 
• diplomatic