minister
Americannoun
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ministers
plural
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a person authorized to conduct religious worship; member of the clergy; pastor.
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a person authorized to administer sacraments, as at Mass.
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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.
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a diplomatic representative accredited by one government to another and ranking next below an ambassador.
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a person acting as the agent or instrument of another.
verb (used with object)
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ministers,
present (3rd person singular)
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ministered,
past participle, past
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ministering
present participle
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to administer or apply.
to minister the last rites.
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Archaic. to furnish; supply.
verb (used without object)
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ministers,
present (3rd person singular)
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ministered,
past participle, past
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ministering
present participle
noun
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(esp in Presbyterian and some Nonconformist Churches) a member of the clergy
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a person appointed to head a government department
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any diplomatic agent accredited to a foreign government or head of state
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short for minister plenipotentiary or envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary See envoy 1
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Also called (in full): minister resident. a diplomat ranking after an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
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a person who attends to the needs of others, esp in religious matters
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a person who acts as the agent or servant of a person or thing
verb
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to attend to the needs (of); take care (of)
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archaic (tr) to provide; supply
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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ministershipnoun
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subministernoun
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underministernoun
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preministerverb (used without object)
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unministeredadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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ministersimple
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ministerssimple
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have ministeredperfect
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has ministeredperfect
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am ministeringprogressive
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are ministeringprogressive
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is ministeringprogressive
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have been ministeringperfect progressive
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has been ministeringperfect progressive
Past
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ministeredsimple
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had ministeredperfect
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was ministeringprogressive
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were ministeringprogressive
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had been ministeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of minister
First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the noun) Middle English minister, ministre, from Old French ministre, from Latin minister “servant,” from minus “less” (adverb form of minor minor ) + -ter, noun suffix; (for the verb) Middle English ministren, from Old French ministrer, from Latin ministrāre “to act as a servant, attend,” derivative of minister; cf. master ( def. )
Explanation
You might meet a minister of the religious kind — a pastor or a rector. Or, you may meet a minister of the government kind — a prime minister or a minister of finance, for example. You don't have to be religious to minister. When you minister to someone, you take care of them. All of these meanings of minister — both as a noun and as a verb — contain a grain of the original Latin meaning, "servant." A minister in a church serves his or her flock, and a prime minister serves his or her country.
Vocabulary lists containing minister
"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act V
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The Monroe Doctrine (1823)
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Ronald Reagan, "Tear Down This Wall" (1987)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
After all, their main concerns relate to corruption, which the prime minister says must be investigated by the justice system.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Among those considered by diplomats to be potential entrants are Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza under the US-backed "Board of Peace," and the UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs Lana Nusseibeh.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Yevhenii Khmara, the country’s defense minister, told journalists Saturday that developing jet engines is a priority for Ukraine’s defense industry, with about 20 companies now working in the field.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
In 2024, Sir Keir Starmer appointed him as national security adviser, a position he retained when Andy Burnham became prime minister.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Even the vice minister of justice insisted on performing, and his was the best voice of all.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Lord Ricketts told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that ministers had to warn British people about what might be coming.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
The annual meetings bring together finance ministers, central bankers and policymakers from around the world, and Warsh said he had heard from others of the "common challenges" advanced economies faced.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Earlier this year, U.S. envoy Massad Boulos held negotiations in Madrid with the foreign ministers of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and representatives of the Polisario.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Yemeni information minister Moammar al-Eryani said the prime minister and cabinet ministers were safe, adding the attack had been carried out with five missiles.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
These, God’s ministers, had indeed grown fat, and their dress was rich and various.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
During his retirement, he ministered at St Mary the Virgin in Eastbourne until he was barred in 2022.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2025
Powe’s relatives belonged to the Knights, named for a 17th century Spanish Jesuit who ministered to enslaved people in Colombia and is the country’s patron saint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2025
It was daunting when the Rev. Brandon Thomas Crowley, at age 22, replaced a beloved pastor who had ministered to one of suburban Boston’s most famed Black churches for 24 years.
From Seattle Times ● May 17, 2024
I was sick all day Sunday, ministered to by my girlfriend, who fed me chicken soup and bathed my head with wet washcloths.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2023
Side by side, in the sanctuary of God’s fleas, Betsie and I ministered the Word of God to all in the room.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
The region’s Catholic institutions responded to last year’s aggressive raids with an outpouring of charity, reorganizing many food pantries around grocery delivery and ministering directly to communities many described as under siege.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026
Bedraggled and bleeding, he opens his eyes to find Anna ministering to him and is rhapsodically smitten.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025
The Church of England says that faith chaplains have been ministering to schools for centuries.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2024
My recent employment has been as a hospice chaplain, ministering to dying people and their families.
From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2024
“A ministering angel,” said Bono, and pressed her free hand to his lips.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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