foreign minister

American  

noun

1. (in countries other than the U.S.) a cabinet minister who conducts and supervises foreign and diplomatic relations with other states.

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foreign minister British  

noun

1. US equivalent: secretary of state.  (often capitals) a cabinet minister who is responsible for a country's dealings with other countries

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Other Word Forms

• foreign ministry
  noun

Etymology

Origin of foreign minister

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

foreign minister

Bonino served as a European commissioner and a foreign minister in Italy but was best known as a militant feminist with an inexorable dedication to political and humanitarian causes.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

Nonetheless, Ireland’s foreign minister, Helen McEntee, said after a meeting with her EU counterparts in Dublin on Sept. 1 that “a significant ⁠number of member states” were willing to speed up some payments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

On Aug. 26, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Mexico’s foreign minister, Roberto Velasco Álvarez, and urged him to take “decisive action on illegal immigration,” according to a statement from the State Department.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Iceland's foreign minister said the post was "completely inappropriate".

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Earlier that evening, the German ambassador to Russia, Count Friedrich von Pourtales, requested a meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergei Sazonov.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• cabinet minister
• secretary of state